Reston Community Center Board Continues Discussion of Aquatics Center Budget

The proposal to renovate Reston Community Center’s aquatics center continues to move forward.

Monday, the Community Center Board of Governors worked to further budget plans for the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center. The budget and Capital Project plans will be available to the public June 19.

Leila Gordon, RCC executive director, said the board has directed staff on how to proceed with the plan.

“They directed staff to proceed with coordination with county departments — specifically, the Departments of Management and Budget, Public Works and Environmental Services/Capital Planning and Building Development Branch, and the Procurement and Materials Management — to pursue the optimum process and approaches to realizing the project goals and to making our budget and Capital Project plan available to the public on June 19, 2017 in as complete and accurate a presentation as possible.”

The processes for the aquatic center renovation will continue as planned. The proposal calls for a new zero-depth entry attached to the existing lap pool, a new family changing room, private showers, a larger and deeper area in the warm water pool, and overall improved air and acoustics quality.

Reston resident Gordon Gerson submitted a request for additional deep-end safety features and for the locked closets in the locker rooms to be converted into private changing rooms.

“We will continue to explore the optimum solutions to the many challenges having the one building, the one source of funding and the several competing audiences to serve create,” said Gordon in response. “I remain very optimistic that we will arrive at a good solution that you and your constituents will participate in achieving.”

Gordon has previously said she believes the upgrade could cost up to $4 million. Tax rates would not be affected by the project, Gordon said.

The annual public hearing for programs and budget will be held Monday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). Residents who plan to attend are encouraged to send an email to [email protected] to RSVP. Written comments or questions can be submitted to the same address, with a full name and address included.