Ashland Parks & Recreation Commissioners talk pool plans
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
The Daniel Meyer Pool project could cost as much as $10 million and will likely include an enclosure.
That was the gist of a Parks & Recreation Commission study session Wednesday where the pool project was the focus of a long discussion. Originally budgeted at $5.5 million in design estimates created in 2020, APRC staff have raised the budget to $10 million to accommodate for inflation and rising construction costs with the hope the final project will come in under that budget, said Interim Parks & Recreation Director Leslie Eldridge.
The high cost will also accommodate a covering to ensure the pool can be used year round in smoke or snow.
“I think we absolutely need this to be housed, or housable — to do it without that would be spending a lot of money to build the wrong situation. … I’m already starting to hold my breath for fire season. We need to be able to shelter our pool for when it’s smoky and when it’s snowy,” said Commissioner Justin Adams.
Commissioners agreed the covering was necessary for the pool and gave direction for APRC staff to research what kind of coverings could be utilized.
Commissioners also discussed options for heat pumps for the pool with consideration of up front and long term cost and meeting environmental regulations. Natural gas and electric options were discussed but no determination was made.
It’s recommended the new pool be 25 yards by 25 meters with depths from 3 feet to 8 feet, a “recreation/therapy alcove,” a total of 17 lanes, a water polo course, steps and a ramped entry to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, according to meeting materials. The pool will likely be built using modular construction for speed and to lower construction costs.
Commissioners also discussed the upcoming updated Parks, Trails, and Open Space Map. The map will likely come before commissioners again in February.
The map is being updated for the first time since 1992 to reflect changing future planning for APRC. The original map focused on property acquisition while the updated map will focus on easements and lesser property acquisition for trail connectivity rather than creating new parks, according to meeting materials.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
