Wichita City Council members have approved a plan for improvements at the city’s public swimming pools this spring.
The city has completed a $25 million Aquatics Master Plan to rehabilitate the six pools and six splash pads, but that did not include the pool houses and bath houses. Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said there are some deferred maintenance issues that need to be taken care of. That will involve repairs to doors and roofs, painting work and the addition of exterior lighting.
The project will also make repairs at the Aley Pool, where vandals set fire to some facilities last year, and other facilities will have work done to remove graffiti. The city has installed security cameras at pools to prevent future incidents.
The City Council approved $1 million in capital funding for the project, along with over $677,000 left over from the Aquatics Master Plan.
Houtman said most of the work will be done before the summer, so it will not affect the opening of the pools. The pools and splash pads will open on Memorial Day, May 27th.
