Pool reconstruction on schedule, within budget
City pleased with contractor progress, in-house work
Construction crews at Memorial Pool took full advantage of favorable weather in the first week of November. The project is slated to be completed on time and within budget, officials said. Photo courtesy of CITY OF MEDINA
MEDINA – Rec Center Director Mike Wright initially had doubts about reconstructing the city’s outdoor pool, but now he can hardly contain his excitement.
While the Medina Community Recreation Center will be tasked with operating the pool at Memorial Park on East Homestead Street, it has been the city’s parks department crews, led by Director Jansen Wehrley, helping to get the job done efficiently.
City crews have been conducting a lot of renovation work on the pool house in-house, while Astro Pool Company, of Mansfield, is moving right along with the swimming pool, piping systems and the deck.
“It’s just amazing what all is getting done and the amount of progress,” Wright said. “I really thought this wasn’t going to be happening this fast.”
Wehrley is confident the pool, closed since 2012 due to deterioration, will be open in time for Memorial Day 2017 and within the allocated $800,000 budget.
“Everything as far as the pool goes, we’re really good,” Wehrley told Medina City Council in finance committee Nov. 14. “Hopefully by the end of the week they’ll be pouring the pool bottom.”
Wright noted deterioration on the pool, constructed in 1955, was worse than expected once its original wall was removed. Drain systems on the deck were also found to be inoperable. Both issues were addressed, the wall with stainless steel reinforcement.
“We’re going to have some anticipated change orders (to the contract with Astro) we had come up,” Wehrley said. “But nothing extravagant.”
The pool also feature a zero-depth entry bay, which Wehrley hopes will draw families with toddlers and babies. Prior to the pool’s closing in 2012, the baby pool was removed, something Wehrley said hurt attendance. A new, double-flume water slide will be installed, as well as a mushroom water-spout feature and a shade structure on the deck.
The footprint of the area around the pool is also being expanded to the north by moving the fence back about 20 feet. Security cameras and lighting are also in the works, due to three instances of juvenile vandalism during construction.
Councilmen overall were impressed with all of the progress reported. The issue had been on city council’s table since the pool closed, seeing much debate since. The pool has been estimated to cost $80,000 a year to operate and was open about 60-75 days on average.
“Just phenomenal what’s been done,” Ward 2 Councilman Dennie Simpson said. “I know they’re ahead of schedule.”
While the Medina Community Recreation Center will be tasked with operating the pool at Memorial Park on East Homestead Street, it has been the city’s parks department crews, led by Director Jansen Wehrley, helping to get the job done efficiently.
City crews have been conducting a lot of renovation work on the pool house in-house, while Astro Pool Company, of Mansfield, is moving right along with the swimming pool, piping systems and the deck.
“It’s just amazing what all is getting done and the amount of progress,” Wright said. “I really thought this wasn’t going to be happening this fast.”
Wehrley is confident the pool, closed since 2012 due to deterioration, will be open in time for Memorial Day 2017 and within the allocated $800,000 budget.
“Everything as far as the pool goes, we’re really good,” Wehrley told Medina City Council in finance committee Nov. 14. “Hopefully by the end of the week they’ll be pouring the pool bottom.”
Wright noted deterioration on the pool, constructed in 1955, was worse than expected once its original wall was removed. Drain systems on the deck were also found to be inoperable. Both issues were addressed, the wall with stainless steel reinforcement.
“We’re going to have some anticipated change orders (to the contract with Astro) we had come up,” Wehrley said. “But nothing extravagant.”
The pool also feature a zero-depth entry bay, which Wehrley hopes will draw families with toddlers and babies. Prior to the pool’s closing in 2012, the baby pool was removed, something Wehrley said hurt attendance. A new, double-flume water slide will be installed, as well as a mushroom water-spout feature and a shade structure on the deck.
The footprint of the area around the pool is also being expanded to the north by moving the fence back about 20 feet. Security cameras and lighting are also in the works, due to three instances of juvenile vandalism during construction.
Councilmen overall were impressed with all of the progress reported. The issue had been on city council’s table since the pool closed, seeing much debate since. The pool has been estimated to cost $80,000 a year to operate and was open about 60-75 days on average.
“Just phenomenal what’s been done,” Ward 2 Councilman Dennie Simpson said. “I know they’re ahead of schedule.”