The $140,000 facelift at the Redmond Pool is nearly complete — and the new operator is eager to serve the community.
Closed since mid-June, the pool at Hartman Park will re-open on Monday with the daily 6:30 a.m. lap swim, according to Tyson Wellock, the director of aquatics for WAVE Aquatics, the city’s new pool operator.
“We’re in the final sprint toward the finish line,” said Wellock, whose organization also operates the Juanita High School Pool.
The City of Redmond workers are the putting the finishing touches on the nearly 5-month repair project, which includes both technical and aesthetic improvements. The project was funded by the city with the help of a $50,000 Youth Sports Facilities Grant (YSFG) from King County.
“We are really happy with the work that’s gone into it,” Wellock said. “They have gone through everything with a fine-tooth comb. We are extremely happy with the standard and quality. … It’s a completely refurbished facility. It will serve all the needs of the community.”
The existing programs that will return include lap swims with morning, afternoon, evening sessions, open swim sessions three times a week and deep-water aqua aerobics.
Wellock said the staff will roll out the pool’s lesson program in early December. New programs to be introduced later this year include triathlon training for adults and shallow water aqua areobics. In addition, the swims teams for Redmond, Eastlake and Woodiville will practice and compete at the Redmond Pool.
Wellock, who has about a dozen staff members assigned to the Redmond Pool, said he is looking to hire five or six more supplemental lifeguards.
TECHNICAL UPGRADES
There were several behind-the-scenes improvements to the outdated pool, according to Mark Hickok, the City of Redmond’s Recreation Division assistant manager and supervisor of the pool repair project.
The repair project included replacing all of the torn filters in the pool’s filter system, updating the drain system and replacing several deteriorating valves in the mechanical room.
But one of the most noticeable improvements will be the pool’s air quality and efficiency, which was brutal, at best, before.
“The ventilation system really didn’t work that well to move the air,” said Hickok. “Now the public will notice a much better air quality in the building.”
The 250,000-gallon pool should be filled by today, when workers will begin heating the pool and adding chemicals, Hickok said.
The only unfinished project is the diving board replacement, which had several safety flaws, according to Hickok, who said the new diving board and its base should be ready to go in 2-3 weeks.
BEAUTY UPGRADES
As part of the repair project, workers also did some noticeable aesthetic upgrades, Hickok said.
The deck pool was resurfaced to improve the look and safety. All the tiles were re-grouted and the Redmond Parks Department installed shiny new locker room benches.
The old benches were old, cracked and a “safe haven for bacteria,” Hickok said.
New hands-free sink fixtures and bathroom stalls were also installed.
“We want to give the public a great first impression when they walk in the locker room and the lobby,” Hickok said. “If they are really clean and well maintained, they are going to have a better feeling about swimming in the pool, which is equally as clean and well maintained. “
The staff at WAVE Aquatics, which signed its contract with the city on Monday, is excited to provide programs at the upgraded pool.
“We’re looking forward to opening the doors and serving the needs of the community,” Wellock said.
For more information about programs offered at the Redmond Pool, call (425)-883-4422 or visit www.waveaquatics.org.
