Pool group buys land, sets public meeting

The Sonoma Valley Health and Recreation Association (SVHRA) has closed escrow on the site proposed for a community pool, the Verano Avenue parcel known as the Paul’s Resort property.

SVHRA had been seeking a site for an aquatic facility, known as Sonoma Splash, for nearly three years.

The group estimates the total cost of the project to be $10-12 million and has launched Phase 2 of their fundraising campaign. It has raised $2 million this year.

“We made it this far with the financial support of a small group who share our vision,” said SVHRA Board President Paul Favaro. “We are now honing our vision into a fully developed business plan that will show the community and donors how this project will be a success.”

With the site secured, SVHRA looks to expand its base of major donors, which currently includes Pam & George Hamel, Leslie & Mac McQuown, John and Nancy Lasseter, and Bill Price, among others. SVHRA will also launch a grassroots fundraising campaign that will call on the support of a broad range of Sonoma Valley residents, Favaro said.

Favaro said the support Sonoma Splash has received in the past year is a testament to the demand for a state-of-the-art aquatics facility in Sonoma Valley. “Acquiring Paul’s Resort was huge step forward for this project but there is still much work to do,,” he said.

Sonoma Splash, will co-host a town hall meeting with Sonoma-based RossDrulisCusenbery (RDC) on Thursday, December 11, to seek input from the community before the design process begins.

The town hall meeting will be open to the public from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at FAHA, 197 Verano Avenue,.

“While we have a pretty clear idea of what facilities will be required, we want to hear from the public on what the project should look like and how it should feel,” said RDC Principal Michael Ross. “Sonoma Splash will require valley-wide participation to be successful, and the design process is no different. We hope to hear from as many people as possible.”

SVHRA reviewed proposals from four different firms before deciding RDC was best suited to design the long-awaited community pool, Favaro said. The group cited RDC’s creative design ideas, as well as its ties to Sonoma Valley and eagerness to engage valley residents in the design process as important factors in the decision.

“From the beginning our goals have been to build a facility that meets the needs of our community and fits with our spirit and culture,” said Favaro.