Parkpoint Clubs owners on community pool project
An open letter from the Parkpoint Clubs owners concerning the proposed Sonoma Splash pool on El Verano Avenue:
We are proud to say that January 2016 marks the start of our 27th year of involvement in the Sonoma Valley community. Many of you are aware that we are a family-owned (including two sons and five grandchildren) business with strong roots in Sonoma County. Since inception, we have strived to meet the health and fitness needs of Sonoma, and have been active supporters of numerous local charities, non-profits and youth groups.
A few of you have inquired about our involvement in the “Sonoma Splash” community aquatics project. We wholeheartedly support, as do a great percentage of you, the notion of expanding the public recreation facilities in the Sonoma Valley. Our interest really began about 15 years ago when a group of local people formed the non-profit “Sonoma Valley Health & Recreation Association” with a commitment to address a glaring need: the complete lack of a public pool in Sonoma.
A good number of you count yourselves as SVHRA supporters, including several members of its board of directors. The group was unable to find a suitable site during those first few years, so the effort waned. Several other groups have picked up the quest over the intervening years, but were similarly unsuccessful in securing a site. Parkpoint Clubs made it known to the board members that we still actively supported the concept of a community aquatic center and stood ready to lend our support – however and whenever it was needed.
It was in June of 2014 when the 15 years of effort finally bore fruit: SVHRA announced it was in contract to acquire the former “Paul’s Resort” site on El Verano Avenue across from Maxwell Farms Regional Park. Subsequent conversations with the SVHRA board and their consultants led to the realization that in order to achieve the dream of a public pool complex and a community meeting building that one or more additional sources of revenue — to defray land and construction costs and to help fund on-going operating costs — would be needed. Adding a new generation Parkpoint Health Club, with an emphasis on becoming a medically-oriented fitness center, seemed to fit that need, at least in part. A Master Plan was prepared to aid in discussions with potential donors, governmental agencies and interested community groups and users.
SVHRA owns the property and controls the development. Parkpoint Clubs has no commitment from or to SVHRA other than to work together in good faith to determine how best to deliver an exciting amenity for future generations of Sonoma Valley residents. We are supporters of the project whether or not it includes a new club facility.
The issue of whether the Paul’s Little League field should remain or be relocated to Maxwell Park is a thorny one for SVHRA. The league has enjoyed free use of the field, on private land, for a very long time. As a former Little Leaguer, with two sons as former Little Leaguers, and as lifelong swimmers, we strongly support the tradition and the need for both ball-fields and swimming pools. It is up to the Sonoma Valley community to step up and show their backing for both of these worthy endeavors through their financial donations. We stand ready to do our part.
Bill and Lindy Buchanan
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I attended the meeting last night, Feb.24th. After listening to the Splash proposal, I left with many unanswered questions, with the biggest concern, the hundreds of Sonoma kids will not have a field to practice and play baseball on. There were many proposals, but NO guarantee of funding for a Little League Field. Also, how is it going to be possible for Park Point, with its private membership, and Splash with it’s public use to share a pool? Splash plans to open the pool to the entire community. This also includes the High School, the High School SwimTeam, the Water Polo Team, Seniors, kids, low income families, families on Scholarship status, special Swim Classes for those who do not know how to swim, it’s a huge list. Will this work out for the private members of Park Point? How will this work? I understand the property at Paul’s was bought, and the new owners can do what they want with the new purchase, but for the sake of the hundreds of kids without a guarantee of having a ball park, it appeares to be very unfair, even tragic.