Hampton sees massive aquatics center featuring ‘Splash-Down Park’ as big ‘economic driver’ for city
Hampton has long sought to boost its sports tourism capabilities, and city officials think the $29.5 million aquatics center under construction will help make that dream a reality.
City officials will host a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday morning for the Hampton VA Aquaplex on at the intersection of Coliseum Drive and Pine Chapel Road.
The venue features several components: a 50-meter competition pool, a 25-meter program pool and an outdoor “Splash-Down Park,” with a lazy river, a pool and tower body slides, according to city officials.
The roughly 64,000 square-foot center is being built on a 5-acre lot and will have spectator seating for 1,500 and on-deck athlete seating for 760. As the home for Hampton City Schools swimming teams, the plan is to host competitions and events.
“It will be an economic driver for the city ... as much as an economic driver as the Boo Williams Sportplex,” Mayor Donnie Tuck said.
The project has gone through many funding iterations, with its bottom line rising and falling like the tides. The latest blueprint was set in Hampton’s capital plan in 2019. It calls for $15.8 million for a community pool, a splash park at $4.5 million and $9.15 million for a competitive venue. The venue will be paid using bonds and expected hotel and other tourism revenue.
In 2018, design team Clancy & Theys Construction Company of Newport News and Williamsburg-based GuernseyTingle submitted a proposal for the project under the Public-Private Education and Infrastructure Act guidelines — informally known as PPEA. When it was in the concept stages, the City Council was divided, with some members campaigning against the plan. Many felt there were other high-priced priorities.
“My opposition at the time was really about timing and priority. I though there were other infrastructure and (community) projects on hold,” Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray said. “I am not opposed to the aquatics center. I think it will be a great addition, but at the time, I did not see progress being made ( on other projects) that why I wasn’t supporting it.”
Among those amenities — all that have begun or are in various stages toward completion — relocating the Hampton Police Division firing range, a $6.5 million project; a replacement for the community center in Olde Hampton, now dubbed the Mary Jackson Neighborhood Center, a roughly $4 million project; the $7.5 million new Wythe Fire Station building and the near $7 million Buckroe Beach Boardwalk improvement project and new parking for the Boo Williams Sportplex. Most of these projects are listed in Hampton capital plan.
Tuck also wasn’t keen about it.
“I cannot be against a project that we’re now injecting some $30 million, that we are beginning the construction on. Now it’s becoming a reality, it should be great for our city,” he said. “If every time there is a new council, they want to vote to reconsider a project that (was) approved by a previous council, (we) wouldn’t make any progress.”
Lisa Vernon Sparks, 757-247-4832, lvernonsparks@dailypress.com
