After more than a year, a new aquatic center in Warner Robins is opening. What we know
A new aquatic center named after a former chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners is set to open March 1 in Warner Robins.
The county broke ground for the Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center in August 2022. The 39,000-square-foot center features a 50-meter competition pool with state-of-the-art technology to host competitive swimming events as well as lap swimming.
A 25-yard pool will be used for swimming classes, aqua-aerobics, as well as additional water activities. The building also includes a classroom space.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and District Operations Dr. Chris Brown said the new center will make a positive impact on the community.
“The Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center will be a tremendous asset for the Houston County community,” he said. “Not only will it provide additional recreational activities like swimming lessons and water aerobics for our residents, but it will also have a positive impact on our local economy through the competitive swimming events that will be hosted here.”
Funding for the project came from the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax as well as contributions from the Houston County School District.
The construction of the Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center was a joint effort between the Houston County School District, Houston County Government, and the cities of Centerville, Perry, and Warner Robins.
The Houston County Board of Education donated the land for the Aquatic Center and managed the construction project. The project was designed by Cooper Cary, and the construction manager was Parrish Construction Group.
Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners Dan Perdue said wonderful things happen with a government and its citizens work together.
“This facility is a testament to what can be achieved when the government listens to citizen input and endeavors to solve a problem collaboratively,” he said. “I’m so thankful to those who had the vision for this facility and to the citizens of Houston County for voting for the 2018 SPLOST to fund its development.”
SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. This is a 1-cent sales tax that the state of Georgia allows counties to collect to fund specific community projects.
The center is named after Tommy Stalnaker, former chairman of the Houston County Commissioners. He began his career in 1972 serving as an employee of Houston County for 38 years. He served as chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners for 12 years before retiring in 2022.
The Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center is located at 210 Cohen Walker Drive in Warner Robins.
Go here for more information.
