All Options on Table for Improvements to Lions Field Pool in Charles City
Like a kid in a candy store, the options for improvements and enhancements to the Lions Field swimming pool in Charles City are plentiful.
Last fall, JEO Consulting, the firm conducting a study of the pool’s current makeup, told the Park-Rec Board it will take about $1.3 million for the most necessary pool renovations. JEO has since presented possible additions that could also fit in the City’s budget, which City Administrator Steve Diers noted in a recent Board meeting is a must.
JEO’s list of possible enhancements to the pool include a splash pad, a drop slide, a zip line, a current channel, and a Ninja Cross, which JEO’s Amanda Wyatt noted comes with a lot of versatility.
In coming up with possible pool features for Charles City, JEO’s Andy Pennekamp says he looked at various municipal swimming pools in the area including New Hampton, Nora Springs and Mason City.
When asked what additions the Park-Rec Board might be most interested in, Park-Rec Director Tyler Mitchell said, “All of the above.”
No decisions were made and JEO is to come back with pricing on the pool options by April. The timeline also calls for designs by this fall, bid letting next spring, construction between the Fall of 2024 and Spring of 2025 and have the pool ready for full use in the summer of ’25.
