Open house showcases new Quincy Aquatic Center

QUINCY — The new Quincy Aquatic Center is scheduled to open June 26. 

“That’s the plan,” said Quincy Recreation Director Russ Harrington. “We’re planning 1 o’clock on Friday and then lap swimming would start the following Monday.”  

Quincy residents got their first look at the new pool at an open house Wednesday evening. 

“It’s basically the same square foot surface area as the old pool, but there are a lot more activities,” he said. “We’ve got a climbing wall, we’ve got a diving board, we’ve got a rope swing.”  

Not only that, but there are waterslides, a lazy river and an area for lap swimming. The waterslides, however, are only for children taller than 48 inches, so the climbing toy in the center of the zero-depth area has slides for smaller children.  

“That’s the attraction for everybody that’s under 48 inches tall,” Harrington said. “It’s got three waterslides, and the dump bucket, and waterspouts and (water) cannons, and everything everywhere,” Harrington said. “And most of them move, so you can aim at kids down on the ground and things like that.” 

While the pool wasn’t open for use on Wednesday, it’s been tested by Harrington, among others, who said he’s tried everything adult sized. 

“I’ve done the rope swing, the climbing wall, the diving board, the slides. They're all fun,’ he said.  

Chervenell Construction, Kennewick, was awarded a $15.7 million contract for the facility, which includes a refreshment stand and changing rooms along with the new pool. The refreshment stand will be accessible from outside the pool for people who are using the pump track or the playground toys or participating in activities in East Park. 

Construction began last fall, following a year or two of planning. It’s on the site of the old pool, which had started leaking in multiple places. 

“It's been a lot of years of planning, and to see it finally out here now, a week away from getting ready. That's the fun part," Harrington said. "When we've got kids out here, and everybody's having fun, that'll be my candle on the top of the cake. It's been a lot of headaches and checking and things for the last couple of years, so it'll be nice to see everything going.”  

The new pool represents an upgrade, Harrington said.  

“This feels like a resort, or a vacation, or a big park now," he said. "We get some kids in here, screaming and playing and having fun, and it’ll be a good summer." 

    Residents check out some of the attractions at the new Quincy Aquatic Center at Wednesday’s open house.
  

    A potential Quincy Aquatic Center patron checks the water temperature Wednesday evening.