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New look for North Shore swimming complex

Complex upgrading includes a new pool to draw profitable meets, a new main building and bath house renovations.

By JON WILSON
Published September 11, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Crews are digging at the North Shore swimming complex, prelude to an extra pool that will benefit recreational swimmers and, officials think, lure profitable national meets.

"They've started initial site clearing and site preparation," said John Green, the city's capital improvements director.

The pool, 25 meters by 25 yards, should be ready early next year, Green said.

Meanwhile, the North Shore Pool, 901 North Shore Drive NE, is open seven days a week. Swimming lessons, St. Petersburg Aquatics, and the masters swim club continue as usual.

The complex is fenced for the construction project and a temporary entrance and cashier's office is at the southeast corner.

Besides the new pool, the entire complex is getting a facelift.

The $3.168-million job includes:

A new main building.

A building for St. Petersburg Aquatics, the swim club long based at North Shore.

Renovations to the existing bath house.

A pump house.

A waterslide, shade structures and "sprayground" water-play features.

Penny for Pinellas money, derived from the voter-approved 1-cent sales tax and frequently used for recreational projects, is paying for most of the project.

The new pool also will have an entrance ramp for disabled people. Wally Dutcher, a member of the city's Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments, initiated the design.

"As far as I know, it's going to be the first one in the country," he said.

What excites many is that the pool will provide a warm-up area for competition or extra lanes for meets.

"It gives us a much stronger appeal as a major competition venue," Green said.

That's no small deal, economic planners say.

As as an example, the Boys and Girls Club national meet at North Shore generated an under-the-radar windfall because it took place on the same weekend as the Grand Prix.

The meet generated $2,730 in resort tax money and an economic impact of $289,872, said John Giantonio, sports director for the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau. The total impact is based on visitors' expenditures on hotels, restaurants and rental cars, Giantonio said.

Planned, re-planned and discussed for at least 10 years, the pool appeared headed for delay this year because officials expected a shortage of funds.

The City Council, however, insisted the pool be built, citing a directive it issued two years ago.

"I am thrilled to see this move forward. This community has been waiting long enough for this to happen," said Virginia Littrell, whose council district is home to the pool.

[Last modified September 11, 2005, 01:12:04]