C’mon in, the Water’s Fine
Dyer County residents plunge head first into aquatic center proposal

A new indoor aquatic center has been proposed for the town and will give the Dyersburg Dolphins a competitive advantage.

So far, things are going swimmingly in Dyersburg’s efforts to build an indoor aquatic center.

The $7 million facility is proposed to be built adjacent to Dyersburg State Community College, but first a number of factors must be addressed. A feasibility study has been circulating to Dyer County households since early 2006, asking citizens whether they believe an aquatic center would be a desired addition to this community.

If residents believe that such a center would add to the overall quality of life here, then a second phase of the feasibility study would occur to see if the $7 million could indeed be raised from the private sector, as well as from the city and county.

If the money can be raised, a third phase would begin to actually collect that money and begin construction.

“This is a county of 40,000 people who are progressive in their thinking, and we have done some dramatic things in the past,” says Allen Hester, President and CEO of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce. “Hopefully, we will add an aquatic center to the list.”

Hester says having such a facility would make Dyersburg even more of a regional hub in northwest Tennessee than it already is.

“Right now, the many swimmers in this community must go to Caruthersville, Mo., or travel 75 miles to Memphis in order to compete,” he says. “An aquatic center in Dyer County would not only be good for competitive meets, but also for water aerobic classes, water therapy sessions and so forth. Plus we would draw thousands of out-of-towners for competitions, thereby bringing in tourism dollars.”

Committee members with Vision XXI, a chamber program launched in 2000 that details long-range goals for Dyersburg and Dyer County, suggested 150 ideas that could shape the community’s future. The idea of an indoor aquatic center was identified as a top priority.

“The task to investigate the feasibility of an indoor aquatic facility which could benefit the entire community was rated No. 1 in the Vision XXI program,” says Ellen Moore, co-chair of the Vision XXI Recreation and Culture Committee. “The community has requested an aquatic center for many years.”

Without an indoor pool, long-established community swim teams, such as the Dyersburg Dolphins, can only be a summertime squad, competing against teams that enjoy year-round swimming.

“The YMCA of Dyer County is working closely with us on this effort, and we should know sometime this spring where we stand on the feasibility study,” Hester says. “The aquatic center is certainly not a done deal yet, but I am optimistic it will get done.”

Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Brian McCord