By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Plans for separate outdoor and indoor family aquatic centers - each with a water slide and a "lazy river" floating area - will be presented tonight as part of the proposed West Chester Community and Recreation Center.

The design team for the 100,000-square-foot Union Centre facility will explain the two site plans under consideration - each with a gymnasium, cardiovascular workout area, indoor track, community room, classrooms, family locker room and indoor and outdoor pools, said Steve Jones, project manager for Messer Construction.

Neither plan includes an indoor competitive swimming pool. Adding that option could push the project over budget, and could make it difficult to operate the facility at break-even, he said.

A swimming-meet pool is a financial burden, Jones said. "It costs a lot to heat that space, and 1 million gallons of water year-round," he said.

Township trustees say they will not build the center, as envisioned in the township's 1993 master plan, if it cannot be financially self-sufficient. Trustees have earmarked $25 million for construction from the Union Centre tax increment financing district, a development tool to pay for infrastructure improvements.

After tonight's meeting - at 7 p.m. in the Lakota Freshman School cafeteria, 5050 Tylersville Road - consultants will prepare a site plan and operating budget.

Trustees are scheduled to decide April 27 whether to proceed with the project. If they approve, construction could begin in late fall, with the outdoor pool tentatively set to open in 2006, Jones said.

A two-hour public presentation on the proposed West Chester Community and Recreation Center begins at 7 p.m. in the Lakota Freshman School cafeteria, 5050 Tylersville Road. Anyone interested should arrive by 6:45 p.m., said a representative for the architects.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com