Construction coming on new Quincy Aquatic Center

QUINCY — Residents could see work beginning on a new Quincy Aquatic Center by late spring. 

“Our architects are working on getting all the documents finalized,” said Russ Harrington, Quincy Parks and Recreation director. “They’re still tweaking things to make sure everything will fit.” 

The new aquatic center will be in East Park, the same site as the existing facility. 

“Our hope is in May or June we’ll be doing some groundwork,” Harrington said.  

The aquatic center is being designed by NAC Architects & Trinity NAC, Spokane. Harrington said construction should take about a year.  

It will be located between the existing pool and the pump track built in 2022. City Administrator Pat Haley said the new pool would be built at a greater distance from the irrigation canal than the existing pool. The close proximity to the irrigation canal may have caused damage to the existing structure. 

“We know there’s hydraulic pressure from the water level in the canal,” Haley said. “The water in the canal pushes the water in the soil and puts pressure on the sidewalls on the swimming pool, and it creates leakage.” 

Water use at the pool indicates there’s a leak somewhere.  

“We’ve managed that water supply over the summer, but we’re losing a million gallons of water every summer through a leak that we can’t find,” Haley said. “So we just decided, let’s move away from that problem and move it to a better location.” 

Everything will be new, from the parking lot to the water circulation system.  

“It’ll be a complete makeover,” Harrington said.  

The existing pool actually is two pools built at different times, the original community pool that’s now called the lap pool and a separate waterslide. The new pool combines all the activities in one space. 

“Everything is right out in front of you,” Harrington said.  

The new pool will have a zero-level entry deepening into the swimming area; there’s space for swimming laps and a waterslide. A new bathhouse and parking lot are included. The new parking lot will improve access to the pump track.  

The project will require removing the park’s existing softball field, and that will require moving its lights. Harrington said city officials plan to move the softball field to Lauzier Park, located on 13th Ave. SW.  

“It’s the only lit field in the city of Quincy, so it means a lot to the people who use that field,” Haley said.  

The goal will be to have the new softball field ready for use as soon as possible, Haley said. 

The existing pool will be open for summer 2025, Harrington said. Construction crews will be using the pool parking lot, so alternate parking will be announced.  

It will be demolished once the new aquatic center is open, and there are some options for that ground once it’s open space, Harrington said. One likely option is a walking trail.  

The new aquatic center is one of two projects that will be operated by the Quincy Valley Parks and Recreation District, which was approved by voters in 2023. The district includes the cities of Quincy and George, and the unincorporated area in the Quincy School District boundaries minus the Douglas County portion.  

The other project is a new indoor arena, known as the Q-Plex, which is still in the design phase, Haley said.  

Harrington said the new aquatic center will be a good addition to Quincy.  

“It’ll be pretty sweet,” he said. 

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    The Quincy Aquatic Center includes a variety of attractions, including a water slide, pool and splash pad. The facility is just on the other side of the pump track that was built just a couple years ago.