City makes progress on new aquatics center

The new aquatics center could have the capacity to host swim meets, a lap pool, diving boards, a shallow water pool, updated bathrooms and locker rooms, new programs, and much, much more—the problem? Money. 

The Winnemucca City Council approved a design proposal for a new aquatics center from the architecture firm Knit on March 21. The fee for the design alone is $1,306,000, and a new facility could cost upwards of $13 million, according to preliminary figures in an Aquatic Center Feasibility Study conducted April 2021. 

“We are just beginning the design phase, so construction of a new facility is still pretty far out," said City Manager Alicia Heiser. "The design phase will take approximately 1 year. Assuming funding is available upon completion of the design, construction of the facility will likely take 1-2 years. The funding is obviously the critical piece, and it may take some time to obtain it."

Proposals from three different architecture and aquatic design firms were previously presented to the Aquatic Center Committee, consisting of Mayor Rich Stone, City Manager Alicia Heiser, City Councilman Mike Owens, Recreation Director Tom Heikkila, Humboldt County Manager Dave Mendiola, Economic Development Officer Michelle Hammond, and former Boys & Girls Club of Winnemucca Director Chad Peters, and the firm with the highest score was awarded the project. 

“The new facility will be able to support everything that Bode Howard supports and more," Heiser said. "It will be regulation size for swim meets, and there will be opportunity for organized classes as well as recreational swimming."

Having designed the local Boys & Girls Club of Winnemucca facility, Heiser said Knit is familiar with the values and goals of the people of Winnemucca and Humboldt County and will be designing an Aquatics Center that will better fit the needs of the community.

After an effort to propose a recreation tax on the Humboldt County ballot that would help pay for the new Aquatics Center failed twice in the past, money was and continues to be the biggest hurdle that the city faces when it comes to the project. 

The city has been able to use funding secured through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to cover general government function costs so that those funds are then freed up for capital improvement costs, like the design and construction of the pool, according to Heiser. 

“A portion of ARPA funds are being used to cover the city’s general government services which frees up funding that was budgeted for those services. This has allowed the city to transfer funds from the General Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund to get the project started.”      

Based on a Condition Report conducted in 2019, significant issues have been identified with the Bode Howard Memorial Swimming Pool. From eroding walls and floors and a failure to meet space requirements in order to hold swim meets, to violations in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the Bode Howard Pool no longer meets the needs of the community. 

According to Recreation Director Heikkila, despite the declining of the condition of the current facility, the pool still has two club teams that use the facility four days a week, the high school team, and many dedicated early morning lap and walk swimmers, and an aquacise group that meets five days a week. 

“I believe a new facility will get people more excited about participating in aquatics and only strengthen our already strong aquatic community,” said Heikkila in an email. 

The recommendation of the Feasibility Study identified a site for the new Aquatics Center — adjacent to the Winnemucca Boys & Girls Club, and near Lowry High School — for the new facility.   

“The new Aquatics Center will likely be located at the Recreation Complex. This location allows Bode Howard to remain in service until the new facility is built. The Recreation Complex also has ample room for the new larger facility and the required parking. It is also a good location for meets due to its proximity to the high school,” explained Heiser.

Stakeholders in the new aquatics center were present when the Council approved the design proposal and asked representatives from Knit about their intentions to engage with the public and avid pool-users when solidifying the design plans. 

Knit representatives at the Council meeting said that, “Our intent is to hold public outreach meetings.”

When the 2021 Feasibility Study was conducted, a public forum was held and many of the respondents said that they like to see more aquatic exercise, parent/tot swimming time, more swimming lessons, water fitness for seniors, birthday parties, and competitive swimming and diving competition, which would all be possible with a new facility. 

“We expect the new facility will be able to accommodate more swimmers and programs than Bode Howard….The available programming and events will be dictated by the community’s demand/need, but being able to host swim meets is a top priority,” said Heikkila. 

Whitworth Aquatic Center Option A



• Cost Estimate: $13,044,997.90

• Swimming Pool: 6,000 SF

•  10-Lane x 25-Yard Pool with 

Peninsula

• Total Square Building Footage: 21,656 (gross)