What is the Renovation and Construction Bond proposal?

The 1998 voter-approved 20-year 1.0 mill bond expires this May. The Renovation and Construction Bond Proposal on the May 7 ballot is a 1.25 mill request for 20 years. It will raise $26 million to effectively upgrade our aging facility and expand future programs and services.

Why are we doing this?

Steady growth across all of our programs has brought our facility to capacity, making it difficult to balance simultaneous uses. The expansion and renovation are necessary to ensure everyday access for all ages and families for years to come. Today, more than 3500 elementary children receive swimming and water safety lessons every year. Nearly 200,000 people of all ages visit the pool annually. We’re a busy place – and as our region is one of the fastest growing in all of Michigan – we’re getting busier.

If the Bond is approved, what will happen with Parking?

Currently Holland Hospital uses as much as 50% of our pool’s large lot for employee parking. Hospital directors recently approved plan to move the employee parking to its own property if the pool’s bond proposal is passed.

What is included in the expansion and renovation?

The expansion and renovation includes warm-water leisure access, updated wellness spaces, an additional lap pool, increased spectator seating and mechanical improvements. Working with experts in community-based aquatics programming, we identified these critical opportunities for improvement, and we are developing specific plans for expansion.

Who is eligible to vote in the election?
(Where do I vote?)

All registered voters living in Holland Public School District can vote on the bond proposal on May 7, 2019.

• If you live in the city of Holland, here is a link to the ward and precinct map.
• Laketown Twp voters (Precinct 1) vote at the township office, 4338 Beeline (49423)
• Park Twp voters vote at the Maatman Center on Harrington Ave.
• Holland Twp voters vote at Calvary Church, 400 Beeline Rd (49424)

Who is impacted by the changes if the millage passes?

The entire community will benefit from the millage. If passed, the millage will allow every age and every family access every day. Additionally, a recent Hope College Frost Center study determined events hosted by our pool brings in $6.5 million annually from outside visitors to our community.

When would the construction on HCAC begin?

If approved, construction will likely begin in 2020 and wrap in 2021. We have plans in place to minimize the impact on users.

I remember voting on a millage for the HCAC in May. What was that and why do we need another vote?

In May, 2018, voters approved a 5-year millage renewal at the current rate supporting building operations. The new millage is a 20-year bond for facility renovations and expansion.

Is the pool just for swim team practices and meets?

Far from it! Approximately 9000 children, parents, and grandparents came to the pool for fun and safety water fun just during the week of Spring Break alone!. Our pool is one of our community’s most family friendly gathering places. We also support a variety of people with special needs, from those with Parkinson’s to those requiring specific physical therapy regimens.

Do we have to renovate and expand at the same time?

Steady growth across all of our programs has brought our facility to capacity, making it difficult to balance simultaneous uses. We’ve worked with experts from GMC and HCMA, leading architecture and planning firms and have determined that both the expansion and renovation are necessary to ensure everyday access for all ages and families.

Is this a new tax?

This will appear on the ballot as a new tax, but in fact is replacing a previous 20-year millage from our previous expansion in 1999. 20 years of steady growth has brought us to capacity, and once again it’s time for us to expand to ensure for future growth.