See Design Options For New Aquatic Center, Community Center

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Among 160 attendees of the open house in October, there was a consistent preference for modern architecture that expresses more traditional building shapes and materials, such as warm wood, natural stone, gable roofs and exposed timber structures. The same preference for modern wood and stone materials was expressed for the landscape design of exterior spaces. For the recreational pool, preferences included spray features, beach entry and play equipment in the theme of aquatic life.

Input from 1,500 responses to the online survey closely reflected interactive exhibits displayed at the open house. The community broadly favored modern buildings tempered with warmer, more traditional features such as gabled roofs and metal and stone materials. For the recreational pool, community preferences included a beach entry, a spray feature, and play equipment in the theme of aquatic life.

At three pop-up engagement events in October — Walnut Creek Downtown Oktoberfest, Shadelands Farmers’ Market and the City of Walnut Creek’s Trunk or Treat event — the project handed out fliers to hundreds of attendees and discussed background information. The team promoted the online survey and did giveaways to help spread the word about various ways for community members to provide input.

In November, the project team held a series of meetings with stakeholder groups.

One meeting was with a business-focused group which included the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and Catering Company. This group expressed interest in the marketability of and access to the new community event spaces and offered suggestions to provide catering parking at the north of the building, specific catering kitchen equipment, separation of event spaces from other activities at the facility and the possibility of hosting water polo events.

Another meeting was with an environment-focused group which included the Bird Alliance, Fly Fishing Club and Gardens representatives. This group expressed interest in sources of possible noise impacts and offered suggestions about where to site the northern trash enclosure, as well as thoughts about modifying amplified sound and light sources.

The was also a meeting with an aquatics-focused group which included the Walnut Creek Aquatics Foundation, Aquanuts, Masters, Aquabears and Swim Club representatives. This group expressed concern over the design of the 50-meter and recreational pools, and offered suggestions to increase deck space for large pool events, the 50-meter pool depth the placement of lap lanes and play features in the recreational pool, and requested the City provide a proposed pool use schedule effective in 2027, when the facility is expected to open.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city staff is seeking feedback from the City Council with a particular focus on the building scheme, exterior features, building entrance and approach and the patios and event garden and whether they connect the building to the park; preferred features for the atrium and other interior spaces; and the design of the Lakeside room and event garden.

A second City Council meeting is planned for March 5 and will focus on the design and configuration of the two pools and pool deck space.

The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission began its review Feb. 5 of the aquatics facilities. Between the two design options, the commission prefers the roof style of Scheme B but the building floor plan and entry of Scheme A. The commission suggested permanent fencing to keep out geese from the landscaped area and the terraces, and expressed concern about a circuitous route to dressing rooms. Also, the commission would like informal outdoor areas designated for small groups and small indoor study rooms. Commissioners also desire to incorporate sustainability features and water-conserving landscaping.

Public art for the new facility will be discussed at the April meeting of the city’s Arts Commission.

Community members can provide input during each of the public meetings and follow updates on a city webpage.

See the agenda for the Tuesday, Feb. 20 meeting here.

Project Timeline

Feedback from the commissions and City Council will guide the continuing design process and formulate the final design of the facility. The design phase is expected to be completed by spring 2025 and involves the creation of detailed design documents, such as landscape plans, floor plans, pool plans, building elevations and finish selection.

The construction phase of the project is anticipated to be about a two-year process, from summer 2025 through 2027. As currently envisioned, the existing Community Center will be demolished for the new combined facility to be built, while Clarke Swim Center is projected to remain open to the public throughout the construction period.

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