Consulting firm will help Iowa City determine if City Park Pool should be renovated or replaced

IOWA CITY — Iowa City will likely have an answer this fall on if the seven-decade-old City Park Pool should be repaired or replaced.

The Iowa City Council unanimously approved Tuesday an agreement not to exceed $99,950 between the city and an Illinois engineering firm. The scope of services for Williams Associates Architects of Itasca, Ill., includes a study and analysis to help determine if the pool should be repaired or completely replaced.

The agreement is in two phases — where the first phase determine the direction of the second phase, said Brad Barker, recreation superintendent with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The expense — yet to be determined — of doing a renovation or replacement would be extra.

The firm will offer a recommendation and present findings in September to the City Council, according to the agreement.

“With City Park pool having aged nearly 75 years, the current condition of the pool’s infrastructure and equipment necessitates a direction on whether repair or replacement is needed in order to ensure a viable facility for the future of the community,” Barker said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

If the council decides on replacing the pool, at 200 Park Road, a “robust schedule of public input” and a survey are part of the contract to inform council’s decision of a new design, Barker added.

Repairs or construction of a new facility will be targeted after the 2024 season, resulting in a full closure in 2025.

The city has been working on reimagining its recreation facilities and programs. The Iowa City Council last year approved a Recreation Facilities and Programs Master Plan, a programming and facilities road map for the next 10 years.

The discussion surrounding the city’s aquatic facilities has received the most attention from the public over the last year. City Park Pool is the oldest of Iowa City’s three pools, and is the city’s only outdoor pool. The other two indoor pools are at Mercer Park Aquatic Center and the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center.

What are the current challenges at the pool?

The city previously said the pool loses 30,000 gallons of water per day, which is about 3 1/2 inches. The standard amount of water loss per day for a pool is about 1 inch, according to the city.

Barker said the main pool gutter is “worn and abrasive” and residents have complained of minor scrapes and abrasions as a result. The pool house structure and mechanical equipment do not meet modern safety expectations, he added.

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Four consulting teams submitted proposals to the City Park Pool project and were interviewed, Barker said. City staff recommended the Williams Architect firm due to its experience with similar projects and understanding of the pool’s history and public input to date, Barker said. Working with the firm will be a team of subconsultants.

Two-phased approach

The work of Williams Associates Architects will begin with a facility condition assessment, Barker said. This first phase is estimated to cost $11,250.

“This assessment will take into consideration patron safety, maintenance operations, ADA compliance, and life cycle assessments for the pool components, including cost assessments for repairs,” Barker said.

Based on the phase one findings, the consultant will recommend to council if the pool should be repaired or replaced. “If and only if Council decides to replace rather than repair, the project would move on to phase two,” Barker said.

In phase two, the firm would conduct public engagement and conceptual design services, including open houses and focus group meetings. This second phase is estimated to cost $88,340.

The second phase, if needed, would begin in September and run through December with a presentation to council, according to the agreement.

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Residents have raised concerns about how the 73-year-old City Park Pool will be renovated and the lack of details so far. At Tuesday’s meeting, residents and council members expressed how discussions are heading in the right direction.

Iowa City resident Jerry Protheroe spoke on behalf of the “City Park Pool Back to the Future” group. He said the group is “feeling heard.”

“The City Park Pool Back to the Future group agrees that a new or renovated pool at City Park must, at a minimum, meet the user needs of communities currently served.” Protheroe said. “That's a pretty high bar. It's a pretty amazing pool that serves a lot of communities.”

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