Neighbors who saved pool float rebuilding plan
Chastain Park: Upgrades have been approved, but the money for the proposed complex hasn't been raised.

By H.M. Cauley
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/08/07

It's been more than six years since neighbors in the Chastain Park area came to the rescue of their community pool. The favorite swimming hole, on West Wieuca Road in Chastain Park, was built in 1942 but was slated to be closed when area residents rallied to keep it open.

"It was condemned and set to be demolished but we were able to show the city how to make it operational," said Jim King, one of the residents who led the effort. "But the [neighborhood] civic association didn't want to run it, so we started a charitable nonprofit, the North Atlanta Swim Association, to operate it for the city."

More than 350 families have bought memberships in the association. The support has been so strong that the association board began planning for a bigger and better pool to replace the old one. With private grants and money from the city's Parks Department, they came up with specifications for an indoor-outdoor complex that recently has met with approval from the civic association, Neighborhood Planning Unit A and the city.

Now all they need is the money.

"It will be a $15 to $20 million facility," said resident Jennifer Klein. "So far, we've gotten a positive response to the idea, so we have a great deal of confidence that we can raise the money."

The design of the new pool complex, called the Chastain Park Athletic Club, includes demolishing the existing facility. In its place will be a 50-meter indoor pool; an outdoor pool with a diving well; a zero-entry kiddie pool with a slide; training and locker rooms; an office; concessions area; classrooms; and an event area what can be rented out to help defray operating expenses.

"Our focus is on aquatic sports, lessons and lifesaving training," said King, who heads the Athletic Club board. "We also have a swim team, the Tidal Waves, that started in 2003 that has about 175 kids in it each summer. We've been trying to do a bit more each year."

One thing that won't change with the new facility is how it's used. Memberships will still be available to households for $350 and individuals for $175. That fee gives swimmers exclusive use of the property after 5 p.m. Nonmembers can swim for free during certain weekday hours or pay a small admission on afternoons and weekends.

"It's a public facility that will continue to be so, but it will be run in a public-private manner," said King.

The group currently is looking for lead donors to get the fund-raising effort under way. How soon they can come up with the funds will determine the construction schedule, said King.

"If we have the money this spring, we'll break ground in August," he said. "If it takes long- er, it will be next fall and we will open no later than June 1 the following summer. Either way, the community is not going to lose the season at the pool."

Details about the plan are online at www.northatlantaswim.org.

Chastain Park Athletic Club An artist's rendering shows the new aquatic complex in Chastain Park, which includes a natatorium with an indoor competition pool; two outdoor community pools; and an adjacent three-story clubhouse with locker facilities, concessions/coffee shop, and training room and event level.

Non Profit Group Unveils Plans for New Chastain Park Aquatic Center

(February 20, 2007, Atlanta) The Chastain Park Athletic Club Board announced plans today for a new aquatic complex in Chastain Park, which includes a natatorium with a 50 meter indoor competition pool; two outdoor community pools with a slide and diving board; an adjacent three-story clubhouse with locker facilities, concessions/coffee shop, and training room and event level. The Chastain Park Athletic Club is a 501(C)(3) charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting aquatic sports, life safety and community outreach.

The ambitious project, which came out of 5 years of planning, will be the first upgrade of the swimming facility since Chastain Park Pool was completed in 1942. Jim King, president of the board and long time Chastain Park advocate, unveiled the plans and color computer rendering at an open house for pool supporters last week. “Our Board is responding to a dire community need for indoor swimming, upgraded neighborhood recreation and competition facilities.”

The project will be built on the site of the current Chastain Park Pool on W. Wieuca Road in Chastain Park in North Atlanta. The pool has operated with an agreement from the City of Atlanta since 2002. After nearly being razed, the Chastain Park Pool re-opened July 4th, 2002, and became the home of the North Atlanta Swim Association (NASA), which was successful in forming a public/private partnership with the City of Atlanta allowing NASA to maintain and operate the facility. To better convey the organization’s focus on Chastain Park, the non-profit is now known as the Chastain Park Athletic Club. The pool is now clean, refreshing, and available to the community through seasonal memberships and daily gate admissions.

The project is projected to cost between $15 and $20 million, including extensive site work and demolition of the current pool. Work would be timed to not miss a summer swimming season, anticipating completion by the spring of 2009, or perhaps sooner. Funding is expected to come from a combination of individual, foundation and corporate gifts, as well as government investment. “We are very confident that this project will attract the necessary funding to make this project a reality. In addition, we have been blessed to have received a significant gift from an anonymous donor for seed money to get the ball rolling,” added King.

Many neighbors and several groups have donated their time and professional services during the planning phase to get the project to this point. Cooper Carry Architects has designed the structures, while Site Solutions LLC has developed the site planning.

The Chastain Park Athletic Club Board is keeping other organizations and neighborhood groups apprised of plans, including the Chastain Park Civic Association, the Chastain Park Conservancy, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, the City of Atlanta Park Design Department, the Chastain Horse Park, Sutton Middle School, The Galloway School, Northside Youth Organization and NPU-A members. Informal presentations have been met with enthusiasm and agreement that this facility meets a glaring need for the Chastain Park neighborhood and the greater area. Great pains have been taken to insure the design fits in with the historic and recent architecture of the park, such as reusing the gray granite that is now part of the old dilapidated bathhouse building.

Future operational expenses will be met by a combination of revenues from members, donors, gate receipts, local governments, concessions, special events and indoor-pool time rentals, which will include high school swim team, dive team, and water polo practices and meets. Other revenues will be derived from learn-to-swim programs for all ages, senior citizen water aerobics, masters swimming, triathlon training, synchronized swimming and other water sports such as scuba-diving, kayak technique class and water/life safety classes. Also, event facilities will be available for rent for social events and meetings.

Part of the recent success of Chastain Park Pool has been through its seasonal household memberships and Chastain Park Tidal Waves swim team. Last year over 350 families supported the pool and swim team. More than 200 neighborhood children have competed on the team the past 4 summers with only one loss in the regular season over the past two years. The team has finished in the top ten in the Atlanta-Fulton County meet the last two years, which is quite remarkable for such a young organization.

Commenting to the membership at the recent open house, Jim King said “This project has a life of its own. Everything is coming together quickly now after years of preparation. The people of this area want this facility and will work with us to make it happen.”

For more information about the new Chastain Park Aquatic Center, contact Jim King at 404-966-2076 or info@chastainparkAC.org.