MacDill Air Force Base would like an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The city of Tampa would like one as well.
A year ago, the base and the community would likely have gone their separate ways in pursuit of a mutual desire.
Not anymore.
Thanks to a program implemented by the Air Force, the 6th Air Mobility Wing and the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department are now looking into building a pool together, either on base or near it, that would be available to those who live on and work at the base as well as Tampa civilian residents with no specific connection to the military.
The Air Force rolled out its Community Partnership Program two years ago and MacDill joined in April, said Terry Montrose, spokesman for the 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill’s host unit.
As the Air Force looks to reduce installation and mission support costs by 25 percent at bases like MacDill, the program was created to cut through red tape and allow more rapid approval of plans that benefit both the base and the host community.
The swimming pool concept is just one of several under consideration at MacDill.
There is also an effort underway to create a new hiring program for those leaving the military and another to set up additional satellite offices in the community for the base clinic, so that veterans who live in places like Lithia don’t have to drive all the way to MacDill for services.
None of the plans is close to fruition, said Montrose, and other ideas might be added to the open-ended program’s wish list.
But even talking about them is energizing for the city and the base.
“It would be awesomely exciting,” said Greg Bayor, Tampa’s Director of Parks and Recreation.
Under the new program, the base approached the city with several possible recreation ideas, said Bayor, including a ballfield and tennis courts.
But working together for a new pool made the most sense, he said.
“Our pools are aging,” said Bayor. “We do not have 50-meter aquatic competition facility anymore.”
MacDill’s pool position is not much better.
“Our pools were built in the 1940s,” said Montrose. They were originally water reservoirs for fire trucks. They are old and antiquated and we were looking to build a new one ourselves, but the money isn’t there.”
The new Air Force program was the result of legislation intended to remove procedural impediments to working with state and local communities on sharing services and support typically provided by a local government for its own needs, said Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman.
Though nothing has been set in stone at MacDill, Montrose said that the two sides are exploring the possibility of building something close to MacDill “that would allow our guys to come in for a nominal fee and drive more business to South Tampa. It would be good enough for special operators and other stuff.”
Likewise, the city sees a pooled pool as a win-win if it can be pulled off.
“This is opportunity piled on opportunity,” said Bayor.
Such a pool could cost at least $500,000, said Dave Graham, owner of Aqua-Man Pools of Pinellas Park.
In many ways, the community partnership program is about brainstorming, said Brian Murphy, the president and chief executive officer of ReliaQuest, an IT security firm.
Murphy, who has served as the vice chairman of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and co-chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce military council, is working on a plan to create a employment transition initiative that would help those leaving the military find good jobs and stay in the area.
“There’s no shortage of people who want to help,” said Murphy. “The problem is that the solutions are pretty spread out. In order for an active duty service member to find help, they might have to go to nine different resources to piece it all together.”
Murphy said he envisions something akin to a mall that could provide one-stop shopping for the many existing resources.
“We are about 70 percent of the way through,” he said.
MacDill is also looking to set up additional off-base health clinics, in places like Lithia or Fishhawk, said Montrose, most likely in a location already being used for medical purposes
“We could come in and set up shop using our own docs,” he said. “If we can use the space for a fee, then it is a win-win situation.”
Since the program began in October, 2012, more than 600 initiatives have been or are being developed across 40 installations, said Air Force Capt. Erika Yepsen. Many are undergoing further refinement, she said, adding that some may be applicable service-wide, including construction and maintenance of ball fields, refuse pick-up, grounds or pavements maintenance and operation of Airmen support services like libraries, golf courses and youth programs.
Earlier this month, Eglin Air Force Base, located in the Florida Panhandle, signed four agreements under the partnership program, Yepsen said, including the Eglin Energy Resource and Innovation Partnership; the Eglin Air Force Base and Okaloosa County Declaration on Artificial Reef Initiative; an agreement for solid waste collection and disposal services at designated sites on Eglin Air Force Base property and a reclaimed water Memorandum of Understanding.
Because it signed on later than Eglin, MacDill’s programs are not nearly as advanced. Despite the energy and excitement being generated, Montrose said little is likely to happen before year’s end.
“We are in the exploratory phase right now,” he said.