July 26, 2024 | One of Chesterfield’s established goals for 2024 is to create a proposed strategy for the replacement of the 27-year-old aquatic facility on Lydia Hill Drive.

The city previously funded a survey to assess the community’s desires and expectations regarding the future disposition of the facility. That study was conducted by Waters Edge Aquatic Design and Capri Pools & Aquatics.

A final report that includes public feedback, summary recommendations, conceptual scenarios and estimates of probable costs was approved by the City Council in February. At the time, staff was directed to develop a strategy for the replacement of the aquatic facility.

The aquatic facility replacement strategy has seven stages and includes preliminary design, financing, construction design/development and advertising, bidding and construction.

The first task has already been completed, and the second involves soliciting and funding a design consultant for the project, said TW Dieckmann, Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts. The consultant would need to conduct additional public engagement and develop the preliminary design and cost estimates, which would be used to develop funding strategies.

Dieckmann estimates that a new facility would not be in operation before May 2027.

However, he warns that the existing facility could fail before the anticipated closure date, leaving the city without a community aquatic facility.

“We recognize that replacement of the aquatic facility is a major financial decision and will likely require voter approval,” Dieckmann said. “We have been discussing the disposition of this facility for several years, and quite frankly, we are on borrowed time.”

Each year, the city identifies additional repairs and maintenance of obsolete components and leaks that must be identified and resolved for the facility to remain open, Dieckmann said.

“It should be reasonably expected that we will, in the near future, be confronted with a significant failure, which may result in the permanent closure of the aquatic facility,” Dieckmann said.

Staff will prepare a request for proposals for qualified aquatic design professionals.

A financing strategy will be developed after the design and cost estimates have progressed sufficiently to provide adequate information, he said.

At the July 15 meeting, the council approved the aquatic facility replacement strategy, with Council member Barb McGuinness (Ward 1) voting in opposition.