Regional aquatics center

Sen. Hawkins used a drawing of the Oxford Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio, as an example of what he envisions for Chelan and Douglas counties.

State Sen. Brad Hawkins hopes to broker a plan for a new Wenatchee Valley public pool facility.

The 12th District Republican helped pass legislation last session to fund repair and upgrades at Wenatchee’s aging city pool, but those fixes have been delayed by rising construction costs.

“The Wenatchee City Pool has served us well for over five decades, but it will need significant investments just to keep it operational in the near term,” Hawkins said. “It would be more cost effective, more equitable, and more beneficial in the long term for our communities to join together to support a regional solution."

Hawkins favors a possible site in the Wenatchi Landing development area, near the Odabashian Bridge in Douglas County.

"The envisioned facility could include an Olympic-sized outdoor pool to replace the Wenatchee City Pool, a zero-entry children’s pool, splash pad, and water slides along with ample parking, picnic, and restroom facilities," Hawkins said in a press release Tuesday.

Hawkins said has held positive preliminary conversations with Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz and East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford.

The senator says he’s planning a Sept. 15 discussion at the Confluence Technology Center with local officials to brainstorm concepts and funding ideas. 

He said he's been reviewing existing state statutes and drafting legislation to authorize local governments to join together to form a regional aquatics district.