The heavy lift of getting the George Haines International Swim Center (ISC) back into shape has begun.
The Santa Clara City Council previously approved $10 million to get the pools up and running, but the bond money gave the project a big cash infusion. The $400 million in voter-approved bond money will fund the project. Of that money, $49.5 million is earmarked for rehabbing the city’s pools, including the ISC.
“It is really going to start looking like something out there,” said Damon Sparacino, parks and recreation director.
Shortly after work began, the contractor, Adams Pool Solutions, discovered the pool was in worse shape than initially thought. To streamline the process, the council approved a single-source contract to continue the work.
Council Member Kelly Cox called the lack of a competitive bid a “bad look” for the city. She was the lone dissenting vote on the approval.
The project will take place in two phases. The first phase began in April with the pools being drained and the removal of the dive well bleachers. Shortly after, construction crews also demolished the dive tower and the administrative building.
Other phase-one work includes installing fencing, signs, security cameras, heavy equipment and a work trailer. The George Haines bronze bust has been removed and placed in temporary storage.
Estimates for phase one totaled $23.18 million. Construction is supposed to take roughly 15 months, with completion in the summer of 2027.
“We continue to be on schedule,” Sparacino said. “We are all working hard to keep our anticipated timelines for both phase one and phase two, and we want to make sure the public is aware of all the great work.”
It is still too early in the process to determine whether there will be overrun costs, Sparacino added.
Phase two will see construction of a new administrative building. Cost will determine whether additional improvements such as bleacher repair, bleacher canopy replacement and upgrades to accessory buildings will be feasible.
Although phase-two construction has yet to begin, city employees are already working to get it underway.
Unlike phase one, the city went out for a competitive bid for phase two work. The city is in the process of selecting a consultant to support schematic design, prepare construction documents for public works bidding and assist through the bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.
The city expects schematic design to begin in summer 2026, with construction documents anticipated by early 2028.
The ISC’s closure displaced several aquatics groups, including the Santa Clara Swim Team and Aquamaids. Since then, the city has been cobbling together a solution by securing time at other pools until the work is complete.
“We are still meeting regularly with the primary user groups to make sure they are kept abreast,” Sparacino said.
The city has scheduled a ceremonial groundbreaking for May 14.
Further updates can be found on the city’s parks and recreation page. For questions, comments, or concerns about the project, contact the public works department at 408-615-3000.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
