RENOVATION HIGHLIGHT:

Ardmore, Oklahoma

The existing outdoor facility at Ardmore, Oklahoma, consisted of a traditional, rectangular swimming pool, wading pool, and bathhouse.  Years of use had caused visible deterioration in the pool and bathhouse, and previous improvements had only addressed the piping and filtration system and not the facility’s lack of recreational amenities.  As a traditional pool, the facility had little to offer beyond lap swimming and diving and it no longer fit the demands of the patrons.  The City wanted to improve the facility’s condition and enhance its limited recreation value, but they could not afford a new pool, and instead chose to evaluate the existing facility to determine its renovation potential.

Water’s Edge Aquatic Design was retained to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the existing facility.  The evaluation report outlined the findings and identified many concerns with the facility such as a poor gutter design, no ADA access, and unsafe diving clearances.  The report also provided nine alternative improvement and recommendation options, ranging from the most basic of improvements to complete facility replacement.  After reviewing the evaluation report and recommendations, the City chose to renovate the facility and add features of a modern aquatic facility.

As preparation for the renovation, Water’s Edge Aquatic Design recommended conducting core samples on the concrete pool structure to verify that the structure was in good condition and that such a renovation was warranted.  The cores taken from several areas of the pool showed that the concrete was in good condition, and proved that the City could continue with the renovation of the facility.

During the design phase, the City focused on limiting the construction on the pool and containing costs by incorporating new features within the original pool structure and only replacing walls, the filtration system, and the gutter system.  The resulting renovation design included many new features such as a zero-depth entry, floatables, water drops, a current channel, and more.  An ADA access ramp was added from the admissions area to the bathhouse and pool area, and the existing filter piping was reused and expanded to accommodate the new features.

The newly renovated pool opened in 2006 to crowds of people and a very successful first season!

 This article was brought to you by Water's Edge Aquatic Design.  For more information on this facility or other renovation inquiries, please contact Heather Jensen at hjensen@wedesignpools.com.