Kingsport Aquatic Center offers update on renovation, improvement project
Due to an unforeseen shipping delay, the improvement and maintenance project taking place at the Kingsport Aquatic Center will require additional time to complete.
As a result, the target date for the Kingsport Aquatic Center to reopen to the public will be September 30.
Aquatic Director Wendy Terrazas explains the reason for the delay is because the new starting blocks, which are in transit, have yet to arrive.
“As soon as the new starting blocks arrive, we’ll install them and pour the concrete, but it has to cure before we have patrons back in the facility,” Terrazas said. “Barring any other unforeseen circumstances, we should reopen to the public on September 30.”
The Kingsport Aquatic Center temporarily closed for three weeks on September 1 to allow for needed maintenance and key improvements to the locker rooms, family bathrooms, the lazy river and all of the pools at the facility.
DWR Aquatics is performing the work for the city, which includes the following:
- New starting blocks installed to the Olympic-sized lap pool.
- All indoor pools drained, re-caulked, cleaned and repaired (as needed).
- Locker rooms and family bathrooms painted with new shower fixtures installed.
- Fresh paint on the outdoor water slides and lazy river.
- Other facility maintenance as needed.
As it stands now, all of the indoor pools have been filled and employees are working to balance the chemicals in the pools and to get the filtration system and pumps up and running again. The contractor is also finishing up work on the locker rooms and outdoor water features.
Terrazas reiterates, the delay is not a contractor issue, rather just a delay in shipping.
“We simply don’t have what we need to complete the project,” Terrazas said. “We apologize for this delay, but we believe our patrons and the swimming community will be excited once they see the finished product.”
The cost of this maintenance and improvement project is approximately $500,000. The Kingsport Aquatic Center typically shuts down every three to four years for maintenance/repairs with the previous project taking place in 2019.
