Hello Members! We on the Daleview 2.0 Committee are excited to share this space with you as we continue updating everyone on our progress. We encourage you to catch up with information here regarding the steps we are taking, which will cover everything from visuals, committee discussions, finances, and more. If you have any questions about the project please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
NOTE: These artist’s renderings are a reflection of the Daleview 2.0 committee’s best efforts at including the requests of members during the 2024 design survey, while meeting all county codes. Some items displayed in these images (furniture, specific pool features, color schemes) are for display purposes and may not correctly reflect the final product.
Click the image above to download a PDF of the Daleview 2.0 flyer.
A rebuild … for now and future generations. New pool. Same community. Stronger foundation.
Our pool is now 15+ years BEYOND its 50-year engineered lifespan.
The risk of catastrophic failure increases daily, meaning emergency closures, possible lost pool seasons, or complete closure of the pool and loss of our community.
The pool’s infrastructure won’t wait for convenient timing: DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION.
The CLEAR choice: Act responsibly to preserve Daleview’s future and vote YES for the the needed rebuild.
Building a new pool and improving the grounds to meet county code requirements will cost an estimated $3 million.
THE BOTTOM LINE: We estimate a special one-time assessment of $2,000–$2,500 per family, with multiple payment options.
(Any new families joining the pool will pay the same assessment.)
This artist’s rendering is a reflection of the Daleview 2.0 committee’s best efforts at including the requests of members during the 2024 design survey, while meeting all county codes.
WHAT WE’RE GETTING
WHAT STAYS THE SAME
POTENTIAL OPTIONS DEPENDING ON TOTAL PROJECT COST
How and when was Daleview founded?
Daleview Pool was founded in 1957, when members of the Clifton Park neighborhood collected $500 per a family (the equivalent of $5,600 in today’s dollars) to build the neighborhood pool.
We seem to have managed fine with the current pool. Are these problems exaggerated?
We are now more than 15 years over the 50-year life expectancy of our pool. Due to its age, the Committee has been advised that there are surely leaks underneath the pool. Any leaks underneath the pool cannot be fixed with a white coat. Since then, this has been investigated by pool professionals who determined that the pool will need to be replaced, and the board is responding based on those assessments in the hope that it is not too late and we can avoid a more serious event. Much of the aging infrastructure is invisible on a daily basis (think plumbing underneath the deck and concrete beneath the pool), and we know for certain that the pool is actively leaking water. The problems are real, and we do not know how long it will be before the current pool fails. Leaving it as is is not a sustainable option.
What happens if we delay this renovation another year or two?
Every day that goes by runs the risk of the pool failing, forcing Daleview to close for a minimum of two full seasons (the time it takes to plan, permit, and build a pool) — if not forever. Beginning this renovation now, before any crisis, allows us to plan and implement it with control of the timeline and costs, and with confidence that the plan will work. While we don’t want to cite specific examples, since the Montgomery County summer pool community is small, there are multiple examples of delayed repairs and renovations leading to pool failures that have cost pools full seasons, increased repair costs, caused major membership declines, and even closed pools permanently. We don’t know when the pool will fail, but we do know that if we renovate it now, we will all get to continue to enjoy it.
How much is this going to cost again? $3 million? Really?
Yes, and we were surprised too! Unfortunately, with rising inflation and interest rates, the cost of any renovation is high. The costs connected to the upgrades required by code are significant, and out of the pool’s control. And reductions to the scope of this project don’t actually reduce the cost significantly because of the dramatic changes to pool code, safety needs, and community expectations of what pools can offer that have occurred in the decades since the pool’s construction. But we have also found out that if the pool fails before we start a project, this will only get more expensive.
Why is this renovation so expensive?
Approximately $746,000 of the renovation is the result of bringing the pool, originally completed in 1958, up to 2025 code requirements. For instance, we will be required to expand the parking lot and rebuild the driveway to allow a large fire truck to get down the hill. The overwhelming majority of these costs were not anticipated at the time of the initial project undertaking (we just wanted to renovate the pool!), but will be incurred with any future renovation, even a simple 6 lane pool to replace what we have now, and a well that is up to code.
Is there a cheaper option we could pursue?
The committee originally anticipated being able to offer a cheaper option, but the expenses related to the code requirements brought the cost of even the smallest renovation into the range we are now projecting. Any renovation of any type of the pool or grounds will incur the significant costs of bringing the 1958 facility up to current code requirements, as discussed above. Even a simple 6-lane pool replacement and a diving well up to code (with water surface area that must be increased by 60%) will require extensive site demo and prep.
How does the assessment compare to other pools’ experience? Will I be able to pay the assessment in installments?
Seven Locks had a $2,000 assessment in 2022 and Wildwood had a $1,250 assessment in 2023. It is important to note that both pools had about $100,000 more in their reserves at the start of their projects than Daleview, and it is important to note that pool construction costs have risen even since 2022-2023.
Daleview will need to start paying contractors in the fall of 2026. So if everyone stretches out their assessment, we may not have the necessary cash buffer to prudently manage the project. With that said, we know that the assessment may be a burden on some Daleview families and we want to offer those families flexibility. Our ability to offer that flexibility to those that need it is contingent on other Daleview families paying their assessment in a lump sum if their finances permit.
While a Lump Sum is preferred (to ensure we have the cash to pay contractors and other fees on time), we are also offering other installment plans with a nominal rate attached. Details will be set forth in separate documents. If members need other arrangements, please contact Lucille Dickinson ([email protected]) to discuss.
Will future members of the pool pay an equal assessment?
Yes, a Corporate Member joining Daleview in future years will have to pay the same assessments as current members. Part of their Initiation Fee will go to a capital reserve to ensure the Pool has sufficient funds to cover major repairs that come due over the next 50 years.
If I decide I don’t want to pay the assessment, when would I be required to resign from the pool?
As part of all members’ 2026 renewal commitment, they will be required to choose an Assessment payment plan. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the cash needed to move forward with the renovation is needed well before when the new pool opens.
We understand that the assessment may result in members leaving the pool. We care deeply about the Daleview community but understand that that is a sad reality of this necessary project. We encourage all members who feel Daleview 2.0 isn’t a fit for them, to reach out to Board members to talk through any options available. If a member does not choose an assessment plan with the 2026 renewal, 2025 will be their final summer at Daleview as a Corporate Member.
How will this affect my annual dues and for how long?
Beginning in 2025, the Daleview Board approved a plan to increase dues each year through the 2027 Summer season. The Board also focused on other revenue generating income streams to keep the dues increases in line with other pools that have undergone major renovations. We don’t anticipate continued impactful annual dues increases once the renovation is complete.
How do Daleview’s dues compare to other pools in the area?
Daleview’s annual dues have historically compared very favorably to other area pools. After surveying the other community pools in the area, we found that the pools that had completed significant upgrades or renovations all charge more than Daleview, as do many other pools that have not been renovated. In fact, the pools that have completed their renovations in the past five or so years (Seven Locks, Wildwood, Adelphi, and others) all have dues of $1,000+. After expected dues increases in 2026 and 2027, Daleview’s top family dues level is expected to be $990. Pools that are about to undergo renovations in the near future will also be raising their dues in a pattern similar to our increases.
There are a few factors that separate our renovation from similar recent projects. Firstly, all of the pool renovations we looked at locked in their financing in a historically low interest rate environment, terms that are not available now. This makes their overall financing cost lower. Secondly, since COVID, construction costs and inflation have made the price tag of doing a large-scale project that much more expensive. And thirdly, many pools had the ability to expand their memberships to help defray the costs – and this is not an option for Daleview due to limitations on our size from the County.
Can we expand our membership to help pay for this renovation?
No, our membership limit is set by the Special Exception Permit we received from Montgomery County in 1956. Trying to amend that permit, while legally possible, would delay the project by at least a year and open us up to a range of new regulatory challenges (public hearings, traffic studies, etc.). Additionally, a positive decision from the permitting board to expand pool membership is not guaranteed. Expanding membership is something the board will pursue after we have a larger pool that can more comfortably accommodate more patrons.
Some members will surely leave because of the assessments. Do we have enough families on the waiting list to take their spots?
It is likely unavoidable that some members will leave due to the assessment, but we still want to do everything that we can to avoid it, or reduce it as much as possible. Assessment payment schedules, reducing the assessment to the lowest level required, and finding alternative funding sources have been major parts of this work from the beginning, and will continue to be.
Our current waiting list is significant, and the pool will likely need to draw from it more than in a typical season. But we will never take for granted the impact our current Daleview families have on the culture of our Pool. We are committed to speaking to every Daleview member to see how Daleview 2.0 can work for them.
Members should expect the turnaround/response times for 2026 renewals to be quicker than in past years, as we will need to pull from our waiting list to replace members in the 2025/26 offseason.
What exactly are we getting for this investment?
The Daleview 2.0 committee used the feedback from the member survey shared in the fall of 2024 to determine the changes. These include a new, larger, modern pool and related infrastructure on the Daleview property to allow a new generation of swimmers to enjoy the facility. Peace of mind that swimming, and the Daleview community, will continue uninterrupted throughout the upcoming summer seasons. An expanded pool experience that is more friendly to young families, with a learn to swim area, a new baby pool, and new areas to gather, rest, and relax. An updated pool area with possibly a terraced decking area. And cost permitting, a renovated pool house for us all.
Are we building a new pool house?
We are renovating the first floor of the existing pool house to create a modern, functional facility that meets current building codes and serves our members better. The renovation includes a brand new gender-neutral bathroom with ADA compliance, completely retiled shower areas with improved drainage systems, updated sinks and countertops throughout both locker rooms, new toilet and shower partitions, enhanced changing areas, better lighting and color schemes to create a brighter more welcoming atmosphere, and an reorganized lifeguard office with improved storage. While we’re not building an entirely new structure, this represents a transformation of the pool house interior that will significantly improve the member experience. We’ve also talked with an architect about potential second-floor improvements that would be an optional enhancement.
How long is this going to take?
If we get approval to move forward this summer, we can start the permitting process this fall. That will take a full year. Construction would begin in September 2026, as soon as the pool closes, and would continue throughout that winter. The new Daleview would open in May 2027.
Will we lose a summer to construction?
No. The pool contractors and civil engineers are used to completing this type of project in a single off-season. We have yet to hear of a MCSL Pool losing any meaningful seasonal time with a planned renovation. That is also why we are voting this summer — so that we can stay on pace to begin construction as the 2026 season ends.
What impact will this have on the environment? Are we going to have to cut down a bunch of trees?
The green space that Daleview sits in is one of the most cherished aspects of our pool, and the Committee and Board are committed to making the environmental impact of this renovation as minimal as possible to make sure the pool retains its feel and charm. Our primary focus is on the natural shade that Daleview currently provides and ensuring that is preserved in Daleview 2.0.
Please note that that doesn’t mean “not at all.” We are working with our design, build, and architectural firms to this end; thinking through steps that will be needed to replace and replenish the impacted areas. As part of the renovation process, there will be a Natural Resource Inventory and Forest Conservation Plan completed, amongst other code-based studies to fully understand the impact of the Renovation. We’ve already started the process of identifying new water retention areas, as well as permeable surfaces, new tree planting concepts, and shade options to complement our new pool design.
Won’t this change the character of Daleview?
This, along with preserving our green space and our current community, is top of mind for the Board and committee. This is a danger in any redevelopment project, and it is our hope that with careful planning and lots of feedback from members we will minimize character changes, and improve the site if anything. The design changes the plans incorporate are driven by membership’s desires expressed in the survey and other feedback, and we believe that they will result in the betterment of our community. We are also working to ensure that the social character of Daleview remains intact.
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