Congratulations to Morgan Hill officials on the recent opening
of the city’s long-awaited aquatics center.
Congratulations to Morgan Hill officials on the recent opening of the city’s long-awaited aquatics center.
The center, to be built in phases, has a capital budget of $13.9 million for completion, paid by the city’s redevelopment agency. Morgan Hill has done an excellent job of leveraging its RDA funds into important community assets, including the Community and Cultural Center, the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, downtown beautification and more.
The aquatics center currently features three swimming pools, a spray/play area and a tall water slide visible from U.S. 101. It serves as a fun reminder that, thanks to the Morgan Hill RDA, there’s plenty for kids and adults to do this summer in Morgan Hill.
In addition to helping South Valley stay cool and active during the hot summer, the aquatics center has the potential to rev up Morgan Hill’s economic engine. The center will play host to swim meets and water polo tournaments that should bring out-of-town visitors to stay in area hotels, dine in local restaurants and shop in the region’s stores.
We’re certainly hoping the aquatics center makes a great splash, financially speaking. RDA funds were used to pay for construction, but operation and maintenance must come from the city’s general fund. The success or failure of the aquatics center will have a noteworthy impact on Morgan Hill taxpayers.
But the success of the aquatics center rests on how well it is programmed and marketed. It looks like the center is off to a good start, with Teen Howl and Dive-in Movie nights planned. The city’s timing is great, too: Due to the permanent closure of Britton Pool and the temporary closures for renovations of the Gavilan College and Gilroy High pools, there’s very little competition.
It’s up to the city’s recreation staff to plan exciting events and then to make sure all of South Valley is aware of them through extensive marketing. The city must seize the opportunity presented by the lack of competition to become “the” place to cool off this summer.
Morgan Hill officials have undertaken a serious fiscal gamble with the opening of the aquatics center. We’re hoping they can turn the opportunity into a splashy payoff for the city and all of South Valley.
