The Centralia Pool Committee was asked Tuesday night to set their top five priorities of what they would like to see in a new outdoor pool.
The committee met with Joshua Layer of Burbach Aquatics, Incorporated who is completing a feasibility study on the new pool. He presented the first phase that included competition from other outdoor pools in the region and amenities they offered.
Layer also explained the design process.
“Be sure what put in the plans and specifications gets put in the ground properly. So you have a functional swimming pool. Our pools have a 50 year design life. We don’t build pools out of the box. Each pool is tailored to what each community is trying to accomplish with that swimming pool.”
Layer noted almost all new pools have zero depth entry. He says pools can serve four purposes.
“Strictly recreation? Are we looking to do swim lessons out of this pool? Is competition important? You might not have a swim team now but have one in the future. The swim lanes work as competition lanes but also as activity water in the main body of the pool. And then health and wellness are there certain things you want to gear for like water walking or water aerobics?”
Layer says they will also have to decide what features they want to see. Some options include zip lines, wave riders, slides, splash pads, climbing walls, lazy river, diving boards, platform play structure or a vortex pools. Layer noted each would add to the basic cost, with some of the more complex amenities costing more than $1-million apiece.
Layer also reviewed dozens of pool concepts Burbach has built. He noted only two of their pools actually make money and that’s because of a strong concession stand business.
In addition to their own preferences, the committee also discussed doing a community survey to see preferences and how much people are willing to pay to utilize a new outdoor pool.
Economic Development Director Derek Sherman plans to show Burbach some other potential locations for the new pool in addition to the site of the old pool in Fairview Park. They include behind the Centralia Community Youth Center and Centralia Recreation Complex, as well as the old Evers Field.
While the old pool is being torn out by the city, the bath house will remain at least for now to see if it could be used in a new pool complex.
