Marion Releases Three Concepts For New Aquatic Center

A future that includes a new aquatic center in Marion is getting closer to reality.

The City of Marion has released three different concepts for the aquatic center, along with three possible locations in the city. Now, they're asking for feedback from residents.

You can see the three concepts below, all done by Waters Edge Aquatic Design in Lenexa, Kansas. All three are pretty similar, and would include a leisure pool, lazy river, wave pool, lap pool, and more. The real difference in each is the layout. The Gazette says all three would have twice the water surface of the city pool, with the smallest having 26,289 square feet of water surface. Check them out here:

The other big question is where to put the new aquatic center when it's built. The city has provided three different options for that as well. According to the Gazette, the options are:

• Tower Terrace Road, to the east of 10th Street
• North of Highway 151, east of Highway 13
• North of Highway 100, across from Wanatee Park

You can take the city's survey on the new aquatic center HERE. It's available through Sunday, May 16.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, May 5, Marion Parks and Recreation Director Seth Staashelm said the aquatic center is still six or seven years from becoming a reality.

He told the Gazette,

We need to figure out cost of construction. There will be multiple funding sources in play: grants, sponsors and donations, but ultimately this will have to go to a bond vote. The community will have to take a vote someday and decide if they want a project like this in the community.

He also says if the current Marion pool is replaced by a new aquatic center, the pool's current location would turn into a park.