Aquatic Center Update Given Ahead of Nov. 5 Vote

VILLAS – Lower Township Manager James Ridgway and Monica Coskey, of Seven Mile Publishing and Creative, made a PowerPoint presentation at the Lower Township Council meeting Sept. 16, to sell the public on a $10.5 million state-of-the-art aquatic center, the subject of a non-binding referendum Nov.5. 
However, a report from James Rutala, Lower Township construction consultant, regarding Cape Regional Medical Center possibly building a rehabilitation facility adjacent to the center stole the show.
Rutala said talks are ongoing with hospital officials regarding the addition. There had been mention of the hospital using the hydrotherapy pool in past council discussions, but constructing a facility was new information.
Use of the hydrotherapy pool was cited as a possible source of revenue to offset costs to operate the aquatic center.
The plan for the center, which would be built on a 50-acre county-owned property at the Cape May County Airport on Breakwater Road, was originally proposed in May 2018 at a cost of over $14 million. When the Cape May County Open Space Review Board offered $2.5 million towards construction rather than the requested $4 million, a scaled-down version of the aquatic center was conceived. Proposed water slides and meeting space were eliminated.
The proposed center would include a competition pool for youth sports and adult lap swimming, plus a separate “lifestyle” pool for adult and senior aqua therapy, including resistance walking and other therapeutic activities. The current in the “river” portion of the pool would be adjustable, depending on the activity.
“The lifestyle pool would include zero-depth entry, one of the most popular features of modern pools. The shallow, gradual slope allows all users to easily enter the pool,” Coskey explained. The 1,570-square-foot pool would also be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible.
The competition pool would allow for school swim meets, and possibly state swimming events.
School use would be another source of revenue, Ridgway said, as most local schools rent time at the few area pools available. He said Middle Township High School pays $18,000 to use the pool at the Cape May County Alternative High School in Court House.
Mayor Eric Simonson added that state swim meets could help offset operating costs.
Ridgway cited other potential revenue sources, including summer swim programs, contributions from the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority, and facility naming rights and sponsorships.
During the presentation, Coskey said council was aware of the area’s proximity to natural bodies of water and wanted to ensure local children are taught to swim.
“Jim (Ridgway) and I spoke about an initiative to teach every Lower Township second-grade student to swim. That is the kind of thing the aquatic center can accomplish,” Coskey said.
During public comment, Mike Rosenberg, of Villas, said the center sounded like a great idea, but wondered if there would be a discount membership rate for Lower Township residents. He also asked why the county wasn’t kicking in money, since it would be open to all residents of Cape May County.
“There will be a cap on the number of members. We don’t know what that number would be, but Lower residents would get first dibs. We are looking into the discount aspect, if that would be allowed, since we’re using Open Space money,” Ridgway said.
Membership fees are proposed at $300 per person or $400 per family. There would also be a $12 fee for one-day use. Ridgway explained those numbers are preliminary and could go down as revenue figures become clearer.
Stephanie Devlin, a Villas resident, wanted assurances that Lower residents wouldn’t be faced with a large bill in the future for the aquatic center.
“We have an adequate surplus, and with the return on our investments with OceanFirst Bank, we would never have to touch our reserves,” Ridgway said.
The aquatic center would be open seven days a week, 51 weeks a year, 90-plus hours a week, and would be operated by Lower Township Recreation Department employees, according to Ridgway.
Lower Township operates a pool located at Winslow Avenue and Rose Hill Parkway in North Cape May. The main pool has graduating depths of three, four and five feet. A separate baby pool is one-foot deep. 
The 1950s era pool was recently updated, sandblasted, painted and fitted with a new filtration system and is ADA accessible, with a chair lift for entering the water.
Ridgway said that pool would remain operational, even after the aquatic center is open, should the referendum pass.
To contact Carl Price, email cprice@cmcherald.com.