More information about the proposed municipal swimming pool was released Monday when the City Council approved the contract with engineering firm JEO for design services. The council also approved a resolution declaring its intention to issue general obligation bonds. The Dec. 15 passage of the resolution marked the start of a 30-day protest period should electors want to force an election on this issue.
JEO’s Brad Shores was also there to answer questions.
Some things at the waterpark don’t need to be replaced, Shores said. The bathhouse will stay. The existing feature slides and shallow water area on the northeast side (including the 300-gallon tipping bucket) will remain and will need to be gel-coated and re-painted.
A new pool was one of the priorities identified in the quality-of-life survey that went out after the sales tax was approved. The features of the pool include:
• 11,047 square-foot footprint, down from the existing 11,992 square feet
• 215-foot lazy river. Great Bend Recreation Commission Aquatics Director Megan Hammeke said this layout was chosen so the city won’t have to hire additional lifeguards. All parts of the feature must be visible to the guards.
• 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards
• 34-foot tall fly-time slide
• 31-foot tall open-body slide. A second slide would be considered if the project comes in under budget.
• Basketball goal, climbing wall, eight swimming lanes, slides that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Spray features and multiple areas of shade positioned around the pool.
The estimated project cost for the pool is $8.3 million and the bidding phase is looking to take place in August 2026. The pool will remain open for its regular 2026 season and then construction of the new pool will start in September, with the opening at the end of May 2027.
Adding in the design contract with JEO for $705,000 with an allowance of up to $150,000 for additional costs (labeled “resident project representation”), “the total cost of the project at this point is expected to be approximately $9,155,000, with the hopes of saving money when the project is bid,” according to a statement in the agenda shared by City Administrator Logan Burns. “The costs will be paid from the 0.15% quality-of-life sales tax fund with an approximate bond payment around $560,000 per year for 20 years with varying interest rates.”
“The hope is to start construction sooner if design allows but we will plan to be open the entire 2026 pool season,” Burns reported.
The council approved the contract with JEO, noting some of it can be canceled if there needs to be a bond election, which will delay the process.
The council also approved the resolution notice and protest period for a pool general obligation bond. Any bonds issued would count toward the City’s debt limit.
