Wave pool or no wave pool? Marion City Council discusses future aquatic center

MARION — The Marion City Council at a meeting Tuesday leaned slightly toward a future aquatic center without a wave pool, but leaves the option open to add one.

Marion Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm presented the council with three options for the project during a Tuesday night work session. Each option differed in estimated pricing and space needed to complete it.

Last year, more than 1,300 residents responded to a city survey about the future aquatic center, exceeding the city’s goal of hearing from 500 to 600 people.

The Marion Municipal Swimming Pool at 1855 35th St. opened in 1987 and has seen attendance drop in the past few years, Staashelm previously told The Gazette. The aging facility is also experiencing ongoing and increasing maintenance.

The city’s 2016 Master Park Plan and Marion’s ImagiNEXT project identified a new outdoor aquatic center as a top desire of residents. In response, the city created the Outdoor Aquatic Center Feasibility Study to develop a plan for one.

The three options for an aquatic center location presented last fall are: Area 1, off Highway 100 across from Wanatee Park; Area 2, east of Highway 13 and north of Highway 151; and Area 3 on Tower Terrace Road, east of 10th Street.

“I have received a vote of confidence from my neighbors with younger families,” said Council member Grant Harper. “They’re really eager for something like this being close. With that kind of input from young families, this seems to be a must-do project. It’s just about how we put it together.”

Staashelm said construction of the facility still is a few years away, which is the same amount of time left in the current pool’s “life.”

Of the three options, council members were slightly split between ‘A’ and ‘B.’

Option ‘A’ was the largest option and was what was presented last year and is closest to the community wants and needs, according to the city survey. It features all of the amenities including a wave pool, long lazy river, marquee water slide and the obstacle course as well as a lap pool, diving pool and leisure pool.

Staashelm called Option A, “the full build.” For Option A, it would cost an estimated $26.12 million. The price estimates for all of the options were based on estimated 2026 dollars as an attempt to consider inflation.

He said the estimated cost recovery for Option A could be 70 percent to more than 100 percent, meaning a profit for the city. Around 4.4 acres would be required for the facility, but about 10 acres would be needed overall to include space for a parking lot.

“We’re not seeking a final decision this week but we are seeking direction to move forward with one of these designs,” Staashelm said. “We want to bring even more metrics to the council. As we move forward, we will want to continue to bring council and community into this process because it’s a project for the whole city.”

Council Member Will Brandt enthusiastically supported Option A.

“I think we go big or go home on this,” Brandt said. “I think we should have the larger area with ‘A’ amenities and maybe expand in the future. I see this as a regional draw, bringing tourism to Marion. The other 15 acres in a 30-acre area could be commercial growth. Plus, everywhere you go, what’s the busiest pool? It’s the wave pool.”

After Brandt’s comments, Harper, who initially supported B, switched his stance to A.

“I didn’t originally dwell so much on the regional destination component and economic impact this potentially has. I guess I’m going to change my answer. I favor A,” Harper said.

Option B, which the majority of the council preferred, would not have a wave pool initially, but would leave space for future expansion in which a wave pool could be added.

The cost for Option B would be around $23.21 million and potential revenue would be similar to Option A, Staashelm said. However, 5.38 acres would be needed for the facility, which is larger than the fully built Option A.

“The reason it’s larger is because when you take out the wave pool, you’re also removing deck space so we will need more space between the bodies of water,” he said.

Council members Steve Jensen, Colette Atkins and Sara Mentzer all leaned toward supporting B.

Council member Randy Strnad was absent for Tuesday’s meeting and Mayor Nick AbouAssaly left just before the end of meeting presentations to attend his family’s church service.

“C would not excite me at all and it wouldn’t excite the community,” Jensen said. “Of all the places we looked at near Des Moines, the three things at top were: the lazy river, lots of chairs and lots of shade. We need a large lazy river, that was very clear. B has something there for everybody.”

Option C is what Staashelm referred to as the “bare bones” option.

It includes no wave pool, marquee slide or obstacle course and cuts the length of the lazy river in half.

Option C would cost around $18 million, but Staashelm said the revenue and retention rate potential is lower too. The land needed for the facility would be around 3.5 acres.

Staashelm said the next step is staff will work through a funding plan using Option B.

“When we come back, we will present B but will keep an optional quick scenario for concept A. The other steps we will work on in conjunction will be site acquisition and work on the end of life plan with Willowood Pool,” he said.

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