Members of the Pool Ad Hoc Committee considered separating the Skagway Rec Center’s expansion and the pool addition into two separate, but coinciding projects at a meeting on Monday, May 23.

“We do need to split this project up,” said assemblyman Spencer Morgan, the chairman of the committee. “It’s probably the best way to approach it because I have a hard time seeing a mass amount of support for a $15 million facility.”

The recreation center’s expansion is included in that hefty price tag in addition to the two proposed pools, which is much needed according to SRC Director Katherine Nelson. The committee recommends both a teaching and exercise pool, as well as a larger lap and recreation pool.

“We’re just getting busier and busier,” Nelson said. “The basketball court is packed on Tuesday and Thursday nights, there’s 12 people over there climbing [on the rock wall], the weight room is full, when the group fitness room isn’t being used it’s just being used for space with weights or stretching. It’s really congested.”

Regardless of what decision is made, Nelson said something has to change.

“Anything is better than what it is now,” she said.

The committee will be reviewing the costs for the individual projects before making any further decisions.