Both the Dornwood splash park and the Midwest Health Aquatic Center will be open by next summer
BA Green Construction will receive nearly $10 million to design and build the Midwest Health Aquatic Center and Dornwood Spray Park.
Shawnee County commissioners on Monday approved a contract with the Lawrence-based company for a maximum of $9.25 million for the aquatic center next to Topeka Fire Station No. 12 at SW 21st and Urish. A pad at Dornwood Park, 2801 SE 25th, will cost $600,000. In September, when county commissioners first took a look at the project, the cost was expected to be about $8 million, but John Knight, director of parks and recreation, said the cost increased slightly after changes to the water features center.
The Midwest Health Aquatic Center has three swimming areas, a large bathhouse and several shelters that can be rented. The facility centers around a 'bow-tie' pool with wide, zero-depth entrances on both the north and south sides. A mechanism in the middle of the pool pushes air below the surface, creating waves at the entry points.
To the west of the bow tie pool is a leisure pool that features a playground-like structure in the center with small slides that run into the water, a zip-top bucket and water cannons. This pool also has a small zero-depth entry area where swimmers can place lawn chairs to sit in the water.
To the east of the bow tie pool is an area for more daring swimmers. A 75-foot zip line that starts about 14 feet above the pool will take swimmers to an area of water about 10 feet deep where they can drop in. The same area can be used for swim lanes when the zip is not in use. Three slides take swimmers into small alcoves in this pool – two loop slides and one high-speed slide. Two other slides do not enter the water. Conversely, a low water level will carry swimmers down the slide and bring them into a position where they can exit the slide onto the ground.
A large green space surrounds the facility.
Midwest Health donated $1 million for the naming rights in early November.
The Dornwood splash park will open in late spring and the aquatic center in early summer, Knight said. This schedule is subject to change pending weather delays or other issues.
“We don't want to just fly by the seat of our pants with this,” Knight said.
The Commissioners also:
¦ Approved $29,546.27 in capital expenditures for the Kansas Expocentre, including $4,278 for new skate rental.
¦ Approved two contracts totaling $39,325 for maintenance and upgrades to the county's Department of Corrections surveillance and security systems.
¦ Appointed Jerry Desch, Christie McKenzie and Nancy Johnson to the planning commission.
¦ Approval of new stop signs for SW Urish Road and SW 41st Street at the northwest and southeast corners. This intersection will be a stop everywhere.
¦ Announced a vacancy on Shawnee County Fire District Council No. 1. Interested parties must live in the fire district and can send a resume to the county.
