The new multimillion dollar pool and recreation center bond project passed by voters in Redmond in November 2022 is on track. And in addition to an upgraded swim center, there is now talk of a possible lighted astroturf soccer field, a basketball court, and other amenities housed in a brand new facility expected to open in 2025.

While things are still in the schematic phase, members of the Redmond Area Parks and Recreation District are busy meeting with contractors and architects to discuss the different options for the new nearly $50 million, 74,500-square-foot facility. Board members said HMK Company has been hired as project manager and that the amenities discussed back in November are still on the table — but with some new ideas thrown in.

Katie Hammer, RAPRD executive director, said a more concrete cost estimate for the new facility should come in late September, and a public meeting to go over things will be held in October. That meeting has not yet been scheduled. She said the board is planning to start the formal permitting process in the fall and the project will break ground tentatively this coming spring.

“We will take that design and process that information and see if we are on budget,” Hammer said. “Also, cost of materials is more expensive, and we want to estimate cost of materials correctly.”

The new pool and recreation center is needed more than ever as the current pool in Redmond was built in 1979 when Redmond’s population was a scant 6,500 people. Today, the parks and recreation district serves around 45,000 people, so competition for parking and amenities at the current facility can be fierce.

Mercedes Cook-Bostick, a parks and recreation district board director said the pool in Redmond was built when her mom was in third grade, so it’s about time to upgrade with the times.

“The current facility, it’s tight, you have to arrive 30 minutes before swim lessons just to get a seat to watch your kid swim,” Cook-Bostick said.

Cook-Bostick said some of the new ideas bouncing around in addition to the astroturf soccer field to save on water include perhaps electric vehicle charging ports. There are also rumblings of how the structure will look, and Cook-Bostick said while a decision has not be made, her favorite out of a dozen designs was what is known as a “barndominium,” style which features a rustic but modern farmhouse motif.

Cook-Bostick said the pool and gymnasium are still the top priorities on the project and said that in a perfect world she’d love to see a joint partnership with the city of Redmond to help offset operation costs.

“I feel like if the city were to help with a joint partnership it would help relieve some of the areas such as employment. They have a janitorial team, they have a maintenance team, they have a grounds team. They could help facilitate those areas of need,” Cook-Bostick said.

At this point in the process, Cook Bostick said, the 5-year operation levy to pay for the facility’s staffing and operations costs — an ask that was rejected by voters last November — needs to go back before voters in a future election. She said that will happen sometime in the future, but that the next November election is too soon.

Matthew Gilman, the chairman of the board, said the levy was placed on the ballot alongside the bond measure to provide transparency to the public about the costs of the facility. The levy, Gilman said, is not of the utmost urgency at this time and the main focus is getting the schematics down.

“We are not full of resources so we have to pick and choose our battles and when we do go back out for election on the levy issue we need to make sure we have the time and energy and communication skills to put that out properly so we can get it passed,” Gilman said.

Gilman said some considerations on the matter include where the most need is. He said a new bouldering gym recently opened in Redmond with a pickleball facility on the way, which could mean original plans to include those types of facilities in the new recreation center may change.

“Pickleball and climbing, those are proven business models in the real world that have been successful. We are not trying to compete with private companies, we are not trying to outdo private companies, we are trying to provide the district with things that it wants and desires that it currently doesn’t have,” Gilman said.

He said for him, the pool is his main priority, and he is pushing to make it as big as possible to alleviate the crowded conditions. Gilman said the new aquatic center will have two sides, one featuring a lazy river for more relaxed activities and the other for competitive swimming, water polo and water exercises.

“The pool temperature will be a little bit cooler on that side so you can work your heart rate up without boiling like you currently do in our pool,” Gilman said.

Gilman said he is also excited the new center will have classrooms so it can offer yoga and Zumba classes. It will also have two multipurpose gymnasiums that can be used for a variety of different activities, including pickleball if necessary, he said.

“There’s been a big need for people to get into living healthier and more active lifestyles and RAPRD tries to provide that to the public at minimal costs,” Gilman said. “We are trying to introduce people to new things.”

The district announced Aug. 16 that it is forming a new bond oversight committee to help administer the funds to best serve the community.

The committee will meet at least quarterly, and anyone who is interested can download an application on the district’s website, the release said. Applications can also be requested via email by reaching out to raprd@raprd.org or picked up at the Cascade Swim Center at 465 SW Rimrock Way in Redmond.

Applications to serve on the committee are due by Sept. 1.