From: Sara Martin
To: CityClerk
Subject: Agenda Item N5 - Public comment in Support
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 6:01:17 PM
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(Granicus kept telling me to retry, but never allowed me to update my pwd) I strongly support the location of an aquatics facility at Aviation Park. Redondo is pool poor.
For years, the swimming public have only had access to the only competitive pool in Redondo, at the high school, for 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday, and those days are unavailable when the high school has other events scheduled at the pool. The pool complex fits in well with the existing other sports and athletic facilities, and there is plenty of adjacent parking. In addition, non-local swimmers and divers would have better access to Aviation from the 105 and the 405. In the past, I’ve heard people suggesting putting amajor aquatics center on the AES future parkland, next to the harbor, which I consider be a poor choice for several reasons; it’s not a park, the access is poor for non-locals, and it would prevent actual coastal-dependent uses from being located adjacent to the harbor. It’s possible that the Belmont complex in Long Beach inspired the wish to locate a competitive pool complex ocean-adjacent, but Belmont being history should be a warning about the future for putting a pool so close to the shore. The other possible, and oft-mentioned site is the soon-to-beredeveloped failed BCHD hospital site on their Prospect Avenue. There might be enough room for an aquatics facility, but it’s only a half mile as the water polo ball flies, which is too close. That site would make another great park, though! I hope the Council sees the advantages to placing an aquatics center at Aviation, where it will be an economic, social, athletic and health boon to north Redondo.
Sara Martin, District 1