‘Splash Zone’ to be built at Carmichaels pool
CARMICHAELS – The new splash zone at Carmichaels Pool at Wana B Park will give the facility its “own personality” compared to the other two Greene County pools when it opens in time for swimming season next year.
Greene County Recreation Director Jake Blaker said he’s excited about the changes coming to the children’s swimming area that will feature water fountains and four interactive features in the porous “splash pad” area and rebuilt wading pool.
The county commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to approve a bid from J5 of Houston, Pa., to spend $298,000 on the project. That bid, the lowest of three the commissioners received, is within the original budget the county had estimated it would spend on the project.
The commissioners also spent $19,500 in August to hire Wade Associates of Harrisburg to prepare engineering designs on what could be done to improve the aging facility.
The upgrades will replace the children’s wading pool at the facility, Blaker said, although no changes will be made to the adult pool. He said part of the area will be handicap accessible with a cushioned surface, which he hoped would encourage more children with disabilities to attend.
“There is always a need,” Blaker said of the better accessibility. “Everything we build, we want everyone to use.”
County Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said the upgrades will give Wana B Park a different attraction than the “big pool atmosphere” at the Alpha Aquatics facility in Franklin Township and the “family-type” atmosphere at Mon View Pool in Greensboro.
“He’s trying to create an environment at all three pools that is different,” Marshall said of the changes. “Attendance at Carmichaels Pool has always been good.”
Blaker expects construction to begin soon so the work can be completed before the pool reopens in the spring.
“I want to get them in as quickly as we can,” Blaker said of the construction crews. “May rolls in pretty quick.”