The Grants Pass City Council has requested cost estimates for a newly constructed Caveman Pool by the end of the year.
During its workshop session on Monday, the City Council heard from consultants who are designing the new municipal pool that will be constructed at the same site near Grants Pass High School on the corner of NE 9th Street and Wharton Drive.
The two consultants -- RSA and Aquatic Design Group -- have helped design pool projects across the state including the Amazon Aquatic Center in Springfield and the Hermiston Municipal Pool. The City of Grants Pass has earmarked about $5.62 million for the project from the American Rescue Plan Act and Urban Renewal funding. The bare bones construction estimate for the new pool is $6.5 million.
Several members of the Council said they were interested in making the new pool attractive to the public by adding amenities such a 3-meter diving platform, a slide and a drop-slide as well as a half-court basketball court on the property. Those features would be added onto a 25-yard lap pool and a smaller activity pool.
The design of the new pools would include a new bathhouse/office on the north side of the property along with a new public parking lot. The pools would be handicap-accessible with plenty of open space and a grass lawn.
The majority of the Council expressed its interest in including a diving platform, a drop-slide and basketball court to the project, and the consultants agreed to work on providing cost estimates by the end of 2023. The panel would then decide on the final design of the pool facility early next year.
