Lexington parks and recreation is moving forward with plans for new "spray grounds" this summer at Masterson Station and Jacobson parks. Similar facilities will be constructed near existing Douglass and Castlewood pools in 2018. All will be free. Committee member James Brown said how these changes are used could drive future decisions about aquatics.
“It’s going to take some time to see where we need to refocus what we do with aquatics citywide and whether it’s to continue to fund these pools or do we move to splash parks,” he said.
While the parks master plan includes consideration of a large indoor swimming facility, Parks and Recreation Director Monica Conrad says that would be a $25 to $ 30 million investment. She doesn’t see movement on such a project anytime soon.
“It’s a large capital investment of $25 to $30 million to build a large indoor facility that was suggested by the parks master plan. We would certainly need to work with partners and other community partners and potentially private partners to talk about how we could look to that in the future.,” she said.
The city maintains seven public pools including more interactive facilities at Woodland and Southland parks since two pools were closed in 2011. A number of communities around Lexington feature water park-style pool complexes. The parks master plan includes consideration of a large indoor pool, but movement on such a 25 to 30 million dollar project is not likely anytime soon.
“It’s is a large capital investment of 25 to 30 million to build a large indoor facility that was suggested by the parks master plan. We would certainly need to work with partners and other community partners and potentially private partners to talk about how we could look to that in the future.”
