Lance Winter
WIMBERLEY— A community aquatic center could cost Wimberley approximately $10 million for an outdoor facility or more than $16 million for an indoor option, according to preliminary estimates presented Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Aquatic Center Feasibility Study town hall. Those in attendance questioned whether the city can afford the project — and the water it would require.
About two dozen people attended the town hall to hear findings from the ongoing study. The discussion focused heavily on construction and operating costs, water conservation, potential locations and whether a facility could provide year-round swimming.
The study grew out of the city’s master plan, adopted in 2024, and is intended to determine what an aquatic facility could look like, what it might cost and how much the city could spend annually to operate it. City officials stressed that this cannot be solely a Wimberley project. Rather, it must be a valley-wide effort involving the county, Wimberley, Woodcreek and the school district.
Austin Powers of Kimley-Horn, the consulting firm conducting the study, emphasized that no decision has been made to build an aquatic center.
“We haven't decided whether it should or shouldn't happen,” Powers said. “Really, that's not up to us.”
Consultants have gathered information through a community survey, stakeholder meetings, demographic research and comparisons with other communities.
George Deines, an aquatic facility consultant working on the study, said survey responses showed strong demand for recreational and competitive swimming, lessons, lap swimming and aquatic exercise. Residents also indicated they wanted a facility focused primarily on the local community, rather than a large regional attraction.
Water conservation, however, was a recurring concern.
“Water conservation probably came up in 40 to 50% of the open-ended comments,” Deines said.
Consultants presented concepts for an outdoor facility, featuring a six-lane lap pool, zero-depth entry area, play features and slides. The lap pool could accommodate Wimberley ISD swimmers, while also being used for lessons, exercise and recreational activities.
Blue Hole Regional Park and Wimberley ISD property were used as possible locations for conceptual planning, but Powers stressed that neither has been selected: “Just because we're showing a concept at Blue Hole Regional Park, doesn't mean it's going to go there.”
The outdoor concept at Blue Hole would cost close to $10 million, consultants estimated. Building on school district property could cost slightly more, due to additional parking and vehicle access being needed.
An indoor aquatic center would cost more than $16 million, according to the presentation.
Operating expenses also differ considerably. The outdoor concept would cost an estimated $275,000 annually for seasonal operations, while an indoor facility could cost approximately $750,000 annually because of year-round staffing, utilities and building systems.
Admission fees, passes, swimming lessons, programs and rentals could recover some expenses, as consultants estimated a cost recovery rate of roughly 30 to 60%, with the outdoor facility requiring an annual subsidy of about $110,000 and an indoor facility requiring approximately $500,000.
“The majority of municipal indoor aquatic facilities are subsidized across the country,” Deines said. “You will actually find very few indoor facilities that cover all of their costs.”
No admission prices have been approved, though consultants used estimated daily rates of $5 to $10 in their projections.
Krista Collier, whose daughters are on the swim team, asked whether an outdoor pool could be heated and operated throughout the year, as Wimberley swimmers currently travel to Dripping Springs to practice.
“We spend thousands and thousands of dollars going to [Dripping Springs], driving to Drip,” Collier said. “Our kids are driving on that road every day, multiple times a day.”
Powers said year-round outdoor swimming could be studied, although staffing — particularly finding lifeguards outside the summer months — could present challenges.
Deines said consultants could also consider separating the lap pool from the recreational portion, allowing the city to heat and cover only the pool being used during colder months.
Jill Johnson, Wimberley High School's swim coach, said she would support a facility that could be used year-round.
Water use generated some of the night's most pointed questions.
Deines said conservation measures could include pool covers and regenerative media filtration systems, which reduce the amount of water lost through conventional backwashing.
Still, an aquatic facility would require significant amounts of water. Deines said a pool holding approximately 275,000 gallons could use three to four times that amount during a summer because of the initial fill, evaporation, splash-out and other losses.
Resident Andrew Weber questioned how construction of a swimming pool could be reconciled with the area's ongoing water concerns, particularly if Blue Hole Regional Park were selected.
Weber, who identified himself as chair of Friends of Wimberley Parks and the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, also questioned whether the presentation indicated the city had moved beyond determining whether the project was feasible.
Powers said the consultants are not recommending whether Wimberley should build the facility.
“We're not going to come up with the yes or no answer on this,” he said.
Powers said funding options have not been fully explored. A city bond could be one possibility, although such a measure would ultimately be decided by voters within Wimberley's city limits.
Melissa Wolters, Hays County watershed coordinator, encouraged the consultants to involve additional watershed and conservation organizations and questioned whether the source of the facility's water should play a larger role in determining its location.
Wimberley City Council member Rebecca Minnick said the feasibility study was undertaken because residents have discussed a community pool for years.
“When we're talking feasibility, we're [asking], ‘Can it really happen,’” said Minnick. “It's a money issue; it's a water issue; it's a location issue and all of those things combined.”
She said conducting the study does not mean the city has committed to building a pool.
“What our community needs to know is: Is it possible,” Minnick asked.
Resident Sarah Atwood, who said she supports the idea of a community pool, urged consultants to make the source and reliability of the water supply a priority. She also questioned whether preliminary operating estimates fully accounted for employees, insurance and liability.
City administrator Tim Patek said insurance through the Texas Municipal League is estimated at about $16,000 annually for an outdoor pool and $26,000 for an indoor facility.
Consultants said partnerships with organizations, such as Wimberley ISD, the YMCA or neighboring communities, could potentially reduce land, construction or operating costs. Sponsorships and other private support could also help.
The city has not selected a site, approved a design, determined how a facility would be funded or decided whether to build one.
For now, Minnick said, the goal is to determine whether a community pool is realistic.
“It may or may not be possible,” she said, “but we're just looking at all those factors.”
