– June 9,2021-
Aquatics enthusiasts in Visalia have something to cheer about this week – they may be $500,000 closer to building a new aquatics complex in Visalia.
City Council member Greg Collins, who has been championing the project for years, says he has received a commitment from Visalia water purveyor California Water Service, to donate $500,000 to the community project over a ten year period.
He made a presentation to the Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission this week outlining a modified plan for the swim complex if the rest of the City Council goes along.
Collins plans to make the same presentation to his fellow council members in a next few weeks. It could be an incentive for skeptical council members to take a second look at a facility most agree would be great for the community. But clearly the donation is dependent on city buy-in.
CalWater has made other donations to other projects in Visalia including funding a pressure ventilation fan for the Visalia Fire Department last year. The big fan helps firefighters enter a burning building by forcing smoke out of the structure allowing lives to be saved.