HR Parks and Rec Proposes Land Swap with City to Build New Aquatic Center
Hood River Pool. Photo Credit: HRVPRD
By Cole Goodwin
Hood River, Ore., Jan. 24, 2024 – The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District is hoping to put a five-year levy on the ballot in May of 2024. The levy would help fund the building of a new Hood River Aquatic Center, development of the Westside Park and the purchase of Parkdale Park. The current projected levy costs for the average homeowner is between $300 and $374 a year.
“There are two items that will be on the ballot in May a General Obligation Bond that will fund Capital expenses like a new Community Center, Parks, & Trails. The second is an Operation Levy that will fund maintaining and operating Parks and Recreation Programs,” said Mark Hickok, HRVPR District Director.
As a part of finalizing their plans, HRVPRD has proposed a land swap with the City of Hood River to relocate the pool to the 2.6-acre Collins Field lot next to Jackson Park. The location would allow them to expand the aquatic center offerings to include a community center, full-sized gym, and splash pad.
Nan Noteboom, HRVPRD Board Of Directors President, asked the City Council to approve the land swap at the Jan. 22 City Council meeting.
“Here’s the vision, a beautiful park, the gem of the city, seamlessly integrated with a first-rate aquatic center. The aquatic center has numerous improvements over the existing pool, of course, but also because of its improved location and citing it has a gym/community center, more parking, more space, more capacity, and more amenities than it could have in its current spot. The cherry on top is a splash pad on the outside, easily accessible by Jackson Park users. Imagine a family having a picnic in the park on a hot summer day with children running over to play in the free public splash pad. That is the vision we are asking you to have,” said Noteboom.
HRVPRD is also asking for a land swap for the 1.1-acre Tsuruta Tennis Courts that would be turned into additional parking for the aquatic center and the Hood River Middle School.
In exchange for Collins Field and the Tsuruta Tennis Courts, the City would then own the land on which the current pool sits.
Mark Hickok, HRVPR District Director spoke to the City Council explaining that their data shows Collins Field to currently be dramatically underutilized, often going unused for many months out of the year. Hickok suggested that Collins field could be replaced with a new multi-use field at Westside Park.
Examples of multiuse fields.
Hickok has also suggested replacing the Tsurtua tennis courts with new courts located near Golden Eagle park or at Westside Park.
A survey conducted by HRVPD showed that over 80% of respondents agreed with the current plan to try and relocate the pool and build a community center on Collins Field.
City Councilors were supportive of the concept, however, some pointed out that they would like to know the current assessed value of all the properties involved and how residents would feel about the land swap before moving forward. Councilor Tim Counihan suggested the possibility of a 99-year lease as an alternative to a land swap.
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