Pool renovation close to finished

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Tired of running laps instead of swimming them? Missing those fun-filled games of Marco Polo? Upset that your water noodle has been relegated to the closet?

Here's some good news: Peterson's pool, which has been closed for renovations since November 2006, is scheduled to reopen March 14. Following extensive upgrades and improvements, the pool, once again, will handle roughly 130,000 visitors each year.

"A lot of people are really excited about it," said Laura Runyon, Peterson's outdoor recreation director. "We get lots of calls from folks, asking when it's going to be ready."

The pool, which was built as an uncovered seasonal pool in 1989, was long overdue for some TLC, Ms. Runyon said. The wooden structure built to cover the pool in 1992 had suffered damage from Colorado's snow and rain storms. And the building needed better flooring, an upgraded ventilation system and more effective drainage.

Thanks to the pool's renovation, those improvements won't be needed again for some time. Contractors with Innovative Technical Solutions, Inc. have installed a new HVAC system, specially designed to work in humid environments, and have ripped out and replaced the pool's liner.

A new metal structure has been built around the pool, complete with sun lights and lots of glass windows and doors, so swimmers can easily access the building's sun deck. Better floor drains and an in-ground hot tub have been installed, and the area around the pool will get covered with special flooring.

"The floor will be brand new, non-skid," said Rob Pitcock with ITSI. "It's the same stuff they use at the Olympic Training Center."

Mr. Pitcock said ITSI plans to have all the construction work on the pool completed by the end of February. The 21st Services Squadron will then move in and get ready to open the pool to the public sometime in March, Ms. Runyon said.

So, get ready to break out the water noodles. The wait, Ms. Runyon said, is almost over and will be worth it.

"It's taken awhile, but the upgrades were overdue," she said. "I think people are really going to like it once it's finished."

 

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