Town readies final design plans for Bolivar pool project

Armed with a convincing mandate from annual town meeting and the recent special town election, the Canton Playground and Recreation Commission is working with the Building Renovations Committee, a project manager, and a design firm to ready final design plans for the Bolivar Street Aquatic Center renovations. The goal is to submit the plans to a competitive bid process by August.

Meanwhile, Parks & Recreation Director Liz Francis is continuing plans to reopen the pool for the summer season beginning on Saturday, June 22. Francis said work is underway to patch and paint the pool and the facility pumps will be fired up next week. She added that pool staffing plans are also in place for the season.

The pool will be open this summer seven days per week from 1 to 6:30 p.m. with swimming lessons offered in the morning and afternoon sessions.

Once the pool closes for the season on August 25, the renovations could begin sometime in mid September with a projected opening of the new facility in early July 2020.

The total project cost has been pegged at $6.4 million, of which roughly $500,000 has already been allocated. The remaining $5.9 million — approved via debt-exclusion override by a vote of 1,501 to 406 on May 28 — will be bonded over a 20-year period at a cost to the average taxpayer of approximately $30 per year.

Plans call for the demolition of the existing pool facilities, followed by construction of a new pool with zero-entry access, a new deck, bathhouse, splash pad for younger children, and various site improvements. The pool will have swimmers’ lanes and the new bathhouse will have additional facilities as well as storage space.

Francis said she is excited for the new pool and appreciates the support from the community through town meeting and the special election.

“We see this as a great asset for the community and are so glad and appreciative of the support from the community,” she said.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Jun 14 2019. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.