Aquatic center opens with successful first week
Marion-Florence USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker said the new indoor pool at Marion opened May 26 to more than 150 patrons.
The rest of the opening week was smooth as well.
"We had a really good first week," Leiker said.
The indoor pool opening gave Marion residents a place to swim for the first time since the summer of 2006.
The Marion High School gymnasium attached to the pool is still under construction, but Leiker said that has not caused any problems.
"It's worked out well," he said. "Hutton Construction has done a great job of working with us."
The pool also is not completely finished because the locker area and bathrooms have not been completed.
There are portable toilets on site, and a hose outside to wash down swimmers.
Leiker said they would be ready later this summer when the entire gymnasium is completed after a fire marshal inspects the building.
The pool also will have a slide on the southwest side of the building, and a baby pool and spray pad outside the building on the south side.
Leiker said both projects should be completed in the first part of July.
The spray area will have features such as buckets that dump water and water-spraying rings. The water will slope east into the baby pool.
Chairs also will be provided inside for swimmers.
USD 408 board president Chris Sprowls said everyone would have liked the pool to have everything ready, but it just wasn't possible — mainly due to a terrible winter that caused delays.
"I wish it could have been on time," Sprowls said, "but if everyone is patient they are going to be in awe."
Leiker agreed and said despite not being completely finished, opening on Memorial Day worked out.
"We've had a lot of youth and adults enjoy the pool," he said.
