Springville officials finalizing plans for $18M aquatic center

SPRINGVILLE — The more than 40-year-old Springville pool can no longer meet the needs of the family-dense community that it serves.

Springville officials are working hard to finalize plans by Sept. 1 for an $18 million new city aquatic center. Construction is set to begin in October.

The completed Springville Aquatic Center will cover about 6-8 acres, pending final details on the site plan, according to city attorney John Penrod.Plans for the center, created by VCBO Architecture, feature multiple pools, including a 10-lane multiuse pool, a spa, a recreational pool with a current channel, a toddler pool and two slides that will drop swimmers into a "splash down" pool.

Penrod said the primary reason for introducing the new aquatic center is to benefit the family-dense city, making it rich with "community involvement." The center will allow for aquatic activities such as swim team and leisure entertainment, while also including many "dry" components, which Penrod says will contribute to the "wellness of the community."

The "dry" facilities will include a workout area, a multiuse basketball court, indoor track, multiple fitness rooms for classes such as yoga or spinning, a larger program room and a day care center, Penrod said.

The center will be located at 1200 W. 700 South, behind the new Meadowbrook Elementary School and Smith's Marketplace. New roads will be built to improve access to the facility. Penrod said road construction costs will be included in the $18 million.

After a failed attempt in 2011 to pass a bond for $11 million for the aquatic center, Springville tried again in November of 2015 and gained approval from more than 60 percent of voters. Penrod said the city has been pushing for the center since the early 2000s because the current pool had "reached the end of its life" after more than 40 years of use.

Posts from Springville residents filled the center's Facebook page with comments expressing excitement for the new center, and gratitude that their commute to the Provo Recreation Center will soon be over.

One Facebook user commented, "It has been a very exciting and emotional time for so many! We have generations of families that have been waiting for this!"

Since total costs are expected to amount to $18 million, the additional $7 million will come from other sources, according to Penrod. At least $2 million will come from the school district, which will use the facilities for swim team. Penrod said additional costs will be covered from city reserves and revenue from selling city property.

Project contractors, Hogan Construction, will begin to "move dirt" sometime in August. Plans are expected to be finalized by September and the full construction will begin in October, according to Penrod.

The new aquatic center is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

Penrod said there will be room for expansion in the future. One such expansion will be an outdoor "splash pad," which Penrod said was included in last year's plans but had to be taken out because of increases in construction costs.

The area will now be used as a leisure area where Penrod said patrons can still "enjoy the outdoors."

Increasing construction costs are still a concern, but Penrod said Springville Mayor Wilford Clyde and the City Council are committed to completing the project regardless of the cost, and "provide what was promised to the residents with respect to the bond being passed."

"Everybody's on board and moving forward to make it happen," Penrod said. "We're just excited."

Admission rates to the center are not "set in stone yet," pending approval from the City Council, but costs are currently anticipated at $5 for a full-day adult pass, according to Penrod. These prices are expected to be higher for non-Springville residents. Additional pricing and information about the project specifics can be found on the city's website. Email: ahobbs@deseretnews.com

Related topics