Virtual open house set for new aquatic center in Cary

The Cary Park District will host a virtual open house to receive feedback on the new outdoor aquatic facility it is constructing.

Residents who want to give their input on the facility can visit the district's website.

The district said it will use existing financial resources to implement and operate this project, and there will be no property tax increases to pay for it.

Costs for the leisure and lap pools, slides, water amenities, seating, bathhouse, concession and support buildings are estimated to be $7 million to $8 million, and the site improvement costs are estimated at $3 million to $4 million.

A preliminary plan includes having a 6,000-square-foot leisure pool, a lap/competition pool and two large waterslides at the facility, according to a presentation on the district’s website.

The leisure pool will have multiple play features for children. Its structure will allow for a multitude of activities and programming for all age groups, the district said.

In the lap pool, designed for competitive swimming, there will be 8- to 25-yard lands, and a section of it will be more than 12 feet deep to allow for diving. The lap pool will be used by the local swim team, the Barracudas, for practice and meets.

The two proposed waterslides are designed to offer “multiple experiences,” from open to closed and fast to curvy. In addition to the two larger waterslides, an accessible flume slide for smaller children also is in the plan. However, the children’s slide is listed as optional, depending on budget constraints.

To provide users of the facility with shade, there will be structures built over the water, on decks and in lawns and cabanas that groups can rent throughout the day. A concessions deck also is included in the preliminary plan.

The new outdoor aquatic facility at Cary-Grove Park is meant to replace the Community Center pool, which is more than 40 years old. Last September, the Cary Park District Board decided to move forward with its planning, development and construction.

Planning for the facility has been ongoing since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new outdoor aquatic facility, according to the district, is expected to have a 40-year life span.

“Benefits to the community will include improved quality of life to be gained from the availability of high-quality recreation facilities, further connectivity and expansion of the multi-use trail system, positive impacts on home and resale values, as well as job creation,” the district said.

Bidding for the new facility is expected in early 2021, with the groundbreaking and construction to be completed shortly after that. The expected opening date of the new facility is in summer 2022.