- April 25, 2024
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The main pool and kiddie pool at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. File photo
The school district's current site plan. Image courtesy of Flagler Schools
The school district's proposed site plan. Image courtesy of Flagler Schools
The Flagler County School District’s plan to transform the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club into a hybrid schools and community facility became clearer recently when district staff proposed several options to the School Board.
The proposals, presented at a School Board information workshop on Sept. 21, differed slightly, but the board was receptive to the general plan which would eliminate the tennis courts and add portables that would accommodate district programs from others sites.
The tennis courts, which would have required $50,000 in repairs, would be replaced by portables serving the Trail program and the iFlagler Virtual School.
Trail is a transition program for students with disabilities ages 18 to 22. Moving the program to the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club facility would free up 66 student stations at Indian Trails Middle School.
Moving iFlagler to the 11-acre site would free up about 9,000 square feet of space at Matanzas High School, which could be used to accommodate 250 more student stations, said Dave Freeman, the district’s director of plant services.
Other programs that could be accommodated are the Step-Up and Rise-Up programs and the Flagler County Youth Center.
"I'm extremely excited," said board member Jill Woolbright. "(The site) is a short distance from Buddy Taylor (Middle School), so they could have their own youth center."
The pool and exercise gym would be preserved, but the gym could be converted into a youth center facility or be divided up to serve both functions.
“Including the weight room so the community has access appears to be a win-win for all parties involved,” said School Board member Colleen Conklin.
As a fitness center the club annually loses money with a total loss of more than $1 million over the past five years, according to the staff's presentation. The club currently has 229 annual memberships at $225 apiece and 27 monthly memberships.
Board member Cheryl Massaro asked if memberships would be eliminated. Paul Peacock, chief of operational services, said that would be up to the School Board’s discretion.
“Including the weight room so the community has access appears to be a win-win for all parties involved.”
COLLEEN CONKLIN
The pool and gym would be fenced in to separate student and public areas, according to one proposal. Both high school swim teams use the pool.
The project would be completed in phases. Phase 1 would include demolition, parking lot repair and site work totaling over $524,000. Phase 2 would include erecting a possible 13 portables for the four programs at a cost of over $2 million. Phase 3 ($100,000) would renovate the gym. Phase 4 ($160,000) would renovate the bathhouse. Phase 5 would convert the old Step-Up building into transportation use with a cost of over $36,000.
The total cost would be over $3 million with a return on investment within 10 to 20 years, Freeman said. The School Board could elect to go ahead with some or all of the phases.
Board Chair Trevor Tucker noted the project would save the district money in the long run by freeing up student space elsewhere.
Not everyone is happy with the proposals. Liz Colombo, who works part time at the club and has lived in Palm Coast for 39 years said the news was “heartbreaking.”
“It tears my heart out,” she said. “This is a community. We are a family here. But at least the schools are going to use it. It could have been condos.”
