A new aquatics center is getting a $500,000 boost from the Mobile County School System over the next two years, but it’s a much lower amount than officials had hoped and not enough to begin construction.

The Mobile County Commission voted unanimously Monday to support a contract that includes two annual $250,000 payments from the school board to support the construction of a future indoor and outdoor aquatics center within an evolving 170-acre sportsplex southwest of downtown Mobile.

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But the allocation is far less than $5 million Mobile County officials had hoped the school system might allocate for building the first phase of a two-phase, $20 million project.

“I look at this as a beginning,” said Commissioner Connie Hudson, who has long pushed for the indoor aquatics center to host competitive swimming meets and competitions. “I hope the board of school commissioners goes back and looks at their funding abilities and in the next budget year, look at opportunities to help us.”

The County Commission, aided with American Rescue Plan Act money, already allocated $4 million toward the venue last year. The Mobile City Council, also last year, dedicated $3 million toward the project. But Hudson has said that $5 million more was needed before construction could start.

She added, “We definitely have to have another $4.5 million to take this to bid this summer.”

Seeking support

The fundraising is to help spur a project that, when completed, will feature a 40,000-square-foot aquatics center that will contain a 25-yard by 25-meter short court competitive pool, a warm-up instructional pool, locker rooms and restrooms, an outdoor 25-yard by 50-meter competition pool with two dive wells, and parking for over 200 vehicles.

“I think we will regroup,” said Hudson, adding that the county could approach private schools and other private entities for support. “There are no limits there. We’ll be happy to talk to people and accept what we can get from the community.”

The project’s first phase includes the outdoor pool, concession building, indoor instructional pool with locker rooms and restrooms, and a 100-space parking lot.

The second phase, which requires an additional $13 million, includes the short-course indoor pool and a spectator seating for 645 people. That phase also includes a lobby, offices and a concession area.

“Right now, we don’t have adequate facilities in the community and we see over 1,000 students involved (in swim programs),” Hudson said. “You can only imagine how many people would be involved if we had great facilities for them to train at.”

Board: Other priorities

The Mobile County School Board’s support was unanimous last week, and includes $250,000 annual payouts over the next two years. The money can revert back to the school system if the county does not use it for an aquatic center.

The school’s administration did not provide a comment on Monday, but some board members said the allocation was based on annual budgeting that had been already prepared by the school system’s Chief Financial Officer. Mobile County Schools is the largest public school system in Alabama.

Longtime board member Reginald Crenshaw said the allocation also reflected other responsibilities for the school system that includes renovating existing pools at Murphy and LeFlore high schools.

“We want to work with the county, but we have to give consideration to the two we own,” said Crenshaw. “Maybe down the road we can commit more.”

Board member John Hatcher said that if it was up to him, he would allocate the entire $5 million to Hudson to complete the project.

“We’d like to partner with them every chance we get,” Hatcher said. “We do want to give back. I think it’s a problem of finding the funds.”

Behind competition

Danny Corte, executive director of the Mobile Sports Authority said he is hopeful that a funding source will surface, though he admitted that the lack of an aquatics center puts Mobile “a little behind our competition.”

Mobile has not been able to build an aquatic center for decades despite planning documents – dating back to 2001 – that indicates Mobile has a “significant demand” for one.

Other cities have been able to build them. Huntsville and Birmingham have pumped millions of dollars into their venue and are reaping economic returns.

“Hopefully we reach a point sooner than later to get it started,” Corte said. “I think it’s real important to our community that we build the aquatic center. It’s something we’ve need for years.”

An aquatic center is expected to support club teams like the City of Mobile Swim Association (CMSA). The group currently hosts practices at Bishop State Community College’s pool but cannot host any competitive events like tournaments. Last year, the Mobile County Aquatic League – which has around 1,000 swimmers who participate during a summer youth program – hosted its “home” competition about an hour’s drive away in Biloxi, Mississippi.

In addition to club swimming, more than a dozen public and private schools within Mobile County have either swim or swim and dive teams. Besides offering swimming practice and competition opportunities for high schools and youth club teams, the aquatics center could also provide recreational swimming, water exercises, wellness/therapy classes, and instructional programs that benefit water safety and lifeguard certification, stroke mechanics, Scuba training and learn-to-swim and dive classes.