It's been a long, long time...

The Pool has been poured - it's finally taking shape!!!!

Since welcoming New Baby to our family, life has been extremely busy - but I haven't strayed far from the Aquatic Center project.

Newest news of note: the fundraising campaign for the aquatic centers "inner workings" like bleachers, timing system, starting blocks and such - is well underway, and reportedly about halfway to the $1 million goal!!!

There has been much talk in the Bismarck Tribune and on their blogger websites about the "underhandedness" of the park district in raising funds - such as not releasing information to the public, etc... but if one were to actually go back and search the park district website and such, one would discover that all this "new information" and "additional funds sought" were in the original plan for building the aquatic center. It should be no surprise, for example, that the aquatic community of Bismarck is lobbying for their share of the hospitality tax to help pay for bleachers - perhaps the general public doesn't realize just how many swim meets are held here, and just how much money swimmers/parents spend on hotels and restaurants in Bismarck - the major contributors to the hospitality tax. It should follow, then, that a portion of this tax money should be made available to the Aquatic Center for putting in bleachers - if there are no bleachers, there are no spectators, and NOBODY TO SPEND MONEY IN BISMARCK!!!! Amazing how it all works out....

More to follow...

Finally in the news

A media Open House was held Thursday, May 14th at the Aquatic Center, led by Dennis Kemmesat with the Streamline Foundation. Local news outlets took a peek inside, hardhats and all!

See what the Bismarck tribune has to say here:
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2009/05/15/news/local/185139.txt

and KFYR has the news and a video here:
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=30204

Enjoy!!!

$?$?$?$?$ What is the local economic impact of ONE BIG MEET?

Okay, big question in the community - what exactly will this big Aquatics/Wellness Center do for Bismarck? What's in it for us?

Besides the obvious - additional aquatics space, indoor playground, multiple swimming lesson/team opportunities, etc.... there is the opportunity for economic stimulus. With the amount of pool space, there lies the opportunity for BIG SWIM MEETS. Okay, swimming may not sound like the most exciting of sports, but for families involved in competitive swimming, there is nothing like the electricity of watching a superclose race in a big Zone or National meet (or remember the US relays last year at the Olympics???).

Slated already on the schedule for the new Aquatics center are local swim club meets and potential high school championship meets, which bring in local talent, and fill local hotel rooms and restaurants - not to mention the mall! However, larger meets such as Zone meets will bring in swimmers from across a multi-state region for nearly an entire week! "Zones" is like a mini-Nationals for age-group swimmers - The country is divided into a number of zones, each of which host their own meet each summer for the super-fast swimmers with qualifying times. North Dakota is in the Central Zone (see http://www.centralzones.org/) , which consists of 15 states - generally divided into 2 different zone meets. Bottom line: one zone meet would bring zealous swimmers and parents from 8 different states to Bismarck!

Just how much money would one zone meet bring to the Bismarck economy? Okay, this is not scientific in the least, since the latest info I could find online about how much to expect per swimmer was dated in 1992... So, I figured all this based on what I would do as a swimmer's parent and family - like shopping, eating out, eating concessions, and hotel rooms.

Here goes: figured as if Bismarck were hosting the 2009 zone meet (which we are NOT - it's in Grand Forks). They expect approximately 800 swimmers for a 5-day meet. I divided it out as such:

Hotels: median hotel room cost (based on Hotels.com for nights of Aug 5-10) in Bismarck was right at $100/night. Multiply by 5 nights x 800 swimmers: $400,000

Meals out: figuring a 3-person familiy for each of the 800 swimmers (may be more like 4-5 spectators per swimmer) at $10 per person per meal (some will cost more, other families will likely be frugal and grocery shop - this is the average of that!) - figuring they will eat out 2x per day (3rd meal and snacks probably at concession stand)
total: $10/person/meal x 2 meals/day = $60/family/day x 800 swimmers x 5 days: $240,000

Souvenirs (t-shirts/towels, etc...): Figuring at $12 per t-shirt (2009 state ND swim meet price) at 1200 t-shirts (figuring half the parents will buy one) and probably $20 on caps/towels per swimmer
total: $12 x 1200 (t-shirts) + $20 x 800 = $30,400

Concessions: proceeds of which will go to host swim team/facility, prices based on 2009 state swim meet concession prices:
Taco in a bag $3.50, hot dog $1.50, pizza slice $2.50 - so average lunch $2.50 per person
Drinks: 2 per day at $1.50/beverage
Muffins/snacks: 2 per day at $0.50 each
Per person total: $2.50 + $3 + $1: $6.50 x (800 swimmers x 3 people/swimmer) x 5 days = $78,000

Programs: $5 each x 800 = $4000

Shopping locally: Figure $200 per swimmer/family of local shopping over the week (more for the unfortunate few who forget their swimsuit or other necessities!)
total: $200 x 800 swimmers: $160,000

Gas: Figure 2 tanks (one for arrival, one for departure) per family at $35/tank
total: $70 x 800 = $56,000

Not to mention pool rental fees, lifeguard/official fees, sponsorship for meet, airline fees (for some), entertainment (i.e. movies), and patronizing other local venues!!!

My total for 800 swimmers in Bismarck for one single 5-day meet is (drum roll please!!!)...
$968,400 or pretty darn close to a million bucks!!!

With this facility, the probability exists for at LEAST one meet such as this per year, with the possibility more like 2 or 3 per year. Think Zones, paralympic events (which include Canada - we're the perfect spot!), olympic training events (yes, they try to farm those out since Colorado Springs can only host so many people!), large diving events, ETC....

Question answered: is this good for Bismarck??? YES.

The Walls are Going Up!!!

This post is a tad outdated, as I have info from this week that the last wall to enclose the building is near completion!!!! It looks like a building now!!!

These pictures are of the North wall, taken about a week ago. Following completion of the walls, the roofing work will begin - funny thing about that....they need A MONTH WITHOUT WIND in April/May in North Dakota to complete the roofing. HA! Better be making a pretty good deal with Mother Nature for that to happen!!!

I foresee a few windy days over the next month - so in about 6 weeks the HVAC (ventilation and ductwork) should begin - which is estimated at about 2 weeks worth of work. Following that, the actually digging of the pool (yay pool builders!) is slated to begin. I, for one, am really excited to see the size of this thing as it takes shape!

Next post: the financial impact of competitive swimming (not to mention diving and multi-sport events this facility will make possible - think olympic proportions :) ) - Just how much money will one great big meet bring to the Bismarck economy???

Got sand????

So, if a city were to have upwards of a million sandbags, and those sandbags were ready to come down, and needed a place to empty them...and a Park District construction project needed a LOT of sand for foundation and fill work - what is the logical connection???

DUMP THE SANDBAGS AT THE AQUATIC CENTER BUILDING SITE!!!! (What a great idea - I wonder who came up with that?!?!)

Yes, there is an official dumpsite for sand, and garbage/recycle bin for the bags located just east of the Aquatic Center building site - to find it, refer to my first post, or head South down Schafer St., take a right into the parking lot after the High Prairie Arts and Science Center - the "SAND HERE" sign is in the NW corner of the parking lot.

See http://bismarck.org/city_departments/department/news_detail.asp?dID=4&ID=1212 for the official story from Mayor Warford and the Bismarck city folk.

Enjoy!!!
Next post: the walls are going up!!!

Back 2 Business...or Let's Get Physical!!!

Well, the flood danger in Bismarck has passed, and it is looking less and less like we will have flood of Fargo refugees - so let's get back to business: The Aquatics/Wellness Center!!!

Question of the week (from weeks ago) was: What exactly will be IN this building we're building?

Answer #3: A Wellness Center!
Upstairs, just above the lobby area, will be over 6000 sq feet of exercise room!!! Included will be cardio and weight equipment, as well as an Aerobics/Dance studio. The plan is to have top-of-the-line cardio equipment (TBD as to whether they will have TV's/iPod docks), free weights and machines. The Aerobics studio will host group exercise classes, and a little birdie tells me they are looking into some family activities for the space - such as Mommy and Me classes.

Sound exciting? I think so! Just another option to add to the array of workout opportunities in town - but rather conveniently located so mom and dad can raise their heart rates while the kiddos have swimming lessons or practice with the swim team!

As an integral part of the BSC campus as well, this will also fill a void for BSC students who have long been wanting a wellness center on campus. So, yes, this will be a shared facility, but one that benefits both our current community as well as the future of Bismarck (i.e. BSC college-age students, studying hard to potentially become productive Bismarck citizens!).

I, for one, am excited about the possibility of Mommy/Me classes - but also for the many health-enhancing activities there will be available in the new facility. Healthy community residents are an integral part of the community's future: healthy citizens = happy citizens = more productive community!

Enough talk about the aquatics - we're UNDERWATER!!!

This blog will take a short break while the citizens of Bismarck and Mandan along the Missouri River battle flooding caused in part by an ice jam - can you believe they're trying to blow it up with explosives!!! As bad as the flooding is, that part is kind of cool! They should get the Navy SEALS here to go underwater in their scuba gear and place explosives - it would be great training!!! But perhaps scuba divers don't move so well in the ice....

To get updates on the flood and volunteer efforts, visit:
www.bismarcktribune.com
www.bismarck.org
www.bismarckmandan.com - actually helping connect volunteers to people who need them
or the local TV stations (KFYR, KXMB)
School cancellations and updates are on radio stations and websites (i.e. www.1015.fm)

To all of you out there sandbagging or evacuating: GODSPEED.