(radisson.com)Since the Roberts Stadium debate has been ongoing, one idea being thrown around for Roberts Stadium is to convert it to a natatorium. In fact, a swimming pool was one of the 11 original ideas I put on this blog for consideration.
But after careful review, I have come to the conclusion that a natatorium is just not a good idea for many reasons. I am willing to support any solution that keeps Roberts Stadium standing, but I do not believe that an aquatic center is the best idea moving forward for Roberts Stadium. However, I do feel that a natatorium should be built in the complex and I will explain why.
The important thing to remember about the entire Roberts Stadium debate is that this process should not just be about what to do with Roberts Stadium. Rather, this process is about what to do to improve both Roberts Stadium and Wesselman Park as well as the city of Evansville at-large.
For this reason, I have done tossed out the idea that the ball fields complex should be designed to replicate smaller versions of vintage MLB ball fields and they should be placed at Kleymeyer Park. Every day it seems, we are hearing one phony politician after another tell us that they want a committee for Roberts Stadium, yet they have spent zero time evaluating the entire picture such as where to place the ball fields. There's your answer to how serious they are about this project.
With the ball fields located at Kleymeyer Park (and I have yet to see any proposal that trumps building them next to historic Bosse Field), the discussion should then shift to what to do with legendary Roberts Stadium as well as the Wesselman Park complex around it.
First of all, as those who visit this blog regularly know, the very obvious and simple solution to fix Roberts Stadium is too simply raise the floor and fill the event dates with indoor soccer, indoor football, NBDL basketball, mid-sized concerts, small trade shows, and other miscellaneous events. In my opinion, this is really not a hard concept to grasp, yet we have political candidate after political candidate who lets this idea sail straight over their head(s) (which is why it is important to vote for those on the right).
Outside of this simple plan, which I have already identified an owner of 2 + teams who is willing to relocate to Roberts Stadium, I can only think of one other idea that has been considered for Roberts Stadium. That idea is to place a natatorium inside the arena.
Before I tell you why there is a much better location for the natatorium, it is important to understand what it is and why it won't work. For those who don't know, a natatorium is basically just an Olympic style pool with qualifying lanes down the middle of it. The pool can have diving boards, locker rooms, and hot tubs around it. Right now, Lloyd Pool on the north side is our natatorium.
So why will a natatorium not work inside of Roberts Stadium?
1. Engineers I have spoken too indicate the humidity from the pool will rot away Roberts Stadium's structure. Thus, we would be demolishing the venue ourselves over a course of time.
2. Engineers I have spoken too have indicated that to avoid this problem you would have to "Build a building within a building." This could get quite expensive and would be much more expensive than simply raising the floor and fixing the arena up.
3. A natatorium may not solve the need to raise the floor back up.
With that being said, I still believe a natatorium belongs in the Wesselman Park complex. Like I have said to those who want to see some kind of park on the lot, we can all win if we design this complex correctly. We probably won't have the funding to build it all at once, but if we lay out a phase by phase plan with strict mandates, we will get there within the next 10 years, that I am certainly confident in.
If you look at an aerial view of Roberts Stadium and the surrounding area...
http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2010/10/12/20101012-234710-pic-991425034_t607.jpg
You will see the Hartke Pool complex in the bottom left corner of the photo. According to those in the know, Hartke Pool is in a terrible condition and something must be done with it. Instead of converting Roberts Stadium into a natatorium, why don't we kill two birds with one stone? In fact, why don't we kill THREE birds with one stone? What do I mean by that?
If you recall, initial studies for Roberts Stadium after the decision to build a new arena suggested that Roberts Stadium could be an indoor water park resort...
http://www.thetrentiniteam.com/real_estate_blog/view/451/advisory_board_considers_future_of_roberts_stadium
What is an indoor water park resort? Simply put, an indoor water park resort is a facility that contains BOTH an indoor water park and a small to medium sized hotel inside the same building. The closest indoor water park resort to Evansville is Big Splash Water Adventure in French Lick, Indiana...
http://www.bigsplashadventure.com/
Here's some more...
http://www.greatwolf.com/
Although an indoor water park resort is by far the most expensive option compared to an outdoor water park and an indoor natatorium, it is also the most promising option for turning a profit, drawing tourists, and finding a private business owner to partner with the city. If we build a facility that houses an indoor water park, an indoor natatorium, an indoor resort, and possibly an outdoor park, we will enjoy the following benefits...
1. We will be able to close Lloyd Pool and replace Hartke Pool at the same time.
2. If we close Hartke Pool but don't build a water park on the lot, we will be left with another dull parking lot. This plan erases that problem.
3. Hotel Guests get to enjoy a basic pool, an indoor water park, as well as an outdoor water park for the price of one, while the locals still get to use their natatorium or outdoor park (We will need to keep the complexes divided for admission charge purposes).
4. We will have a hotel directly across the parking lot from Roberts Stadium. This will go a long ways in attracting small basketball, indoor football, indoor soccer, and youth sports tournaments as well as premier mid-sized concerts and trade shows. This resort will also boost attendance at Swonder Ice Rink.
5. This development will allow us to bring recreation to Wesselman Park while avoiding any destruction of the nature preserve itself.
6. This plan will allow us to keep the name Hartke Pool which is the correct and ethical thing to do since we agreed to honor former mayor Vance Hartke with our swimming pool complex.
7. City maintenance crews can take advantage of both facilities at one time.
Several years ago, mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. took the bold move of building a new Swonder Ice Rink and demolishing the old complex. Now, we need to do the same exact thing with Harke Pool. Although I'm unsure if it would be completed all at one time even if we were able to close Lloyd Pool and replace Hartke Pool at the same time (just look at the Big E fiasco), we still would be able to complete it in phases.
The process should go something like this...
1. The current Hartke Pool complex is demolished.
2. A new outdoor version of Hartke Pool is constructed on the exact same plot.
3. At the same time, an adjacent indoor natatorium is constructed between Hartke Pool and Swonder Ice Rink. Locker Rooms are built between the two facilities so that guests can take advantage of both water parks.
4. Once a private investor is identified, an indoor water park and resort are constructed next to the natatorium and Swonder Ice Rink. Guests who pay for at least one night at the hotel resort get free admission to all three parks and can then utilize the already constructed locker rooms inside the natatorium. Locals who can't afford anything more than the basic rates currently at Lloyd Pool or Hartke Pool don't have to purchase a ticket to the indoor water park resort or a night's hotel.
5. Swimming complex is complete. Everyone is happy.
If you've been to Hartke Pool, Lloyd Pool or any other around town, you know that we desperately need this type of swimming complex. But the important thing to remember is that this facility belongs next to Roberts Stadium, not inside Roberts Stadium.
Roberts Stadium is designed for basketball, concerts, and recreational sports. Let's keep this tradition alive. At the same time, let's make sure everyone wins. Build the swimming complex on the current Hartke Pool lot!
(sagestone.files.wordpress.com)
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