Schematic designs being crafted for aquatics center in Elmer Thomas Park

City officials want a better idea of exactly what is possible in an aquatics center being studied for Elmer Thomas Park.

The City Council has awarded C.H. Guernsey & Company a $76,600 contract to craft schematic designs for what they are calling the Elmer Thomas Park Aquatics Center. Council members have been discussing plans for a water-centered recreation site that could offer things ranging from a lazy river to swimming lanes, as part of an effort to make Elmer Thomas Park more attractive to residents while also attracting those from outside the community. Funding would come from the city’s Capital Improvements Program.

Guernsey’s contract specifies initial architectural design services for that center, work that will set the scope of future phases. The contract would require Guernsey to create multiple site plans for what they call a medium-sized aquatics center, with amenities including a lazy river, two slides, plunge pool, and lap lanes that also could be used for swimming lessons. Other amenities are restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities, parking and concessions area. The center would be designed to allow for future expansion, city officials said.

Tentative discussions would locate the aquatics center in the eastern side of the park, in the vicinity of Playground in the Park and the Elmer Thomas Park splash pad. That site is well suited for an aquatics center, Guernsey team members told the council in late October. Engineers said they could locate the new center in an open area that exists near the splash pad, a site that also offers two areas for future expansion.

The design report is due within 60 days, under the contract. Guernsey has projected a timeline that states if work continues on track beyond schematic designs, the new aquatics center could be operational by Memorial Day 2025.