HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – If the city decides to move forward with transforming the now shut down Bluegrass Splash Family Aquatic Center into an indoor pool and splash pad, it is estimated to require anywhere between $7.4 to $8.9 million dollars with a total annual operating budget of just over $900,000.
Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Director Toby Hudson gave a presentation to councilmembers at the Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 17 to share preliminary concept art and ballpark figures for how much it may cost to build a splash pad and indoor aquatic facility. Although previous talks pitched the possibility of expanding at the Sportsplex, Hudson said the old Bluegrass Splash site would be the best option for the project due to the existing infrastructure.
He showed potential plans for a 12,000 square foot splash pad that would be next door to an Olympic sized indoor pool/aquatic center. The splash pad would be on the current water park footprint, and the pool would be constructed nearby with additional parking and facilities.
The splash pad could possibly be free to the public and operate for 30 days longer than the water park did. The initial design shows three different zones specifically allocated for toddlers, all ages, and older visitors. This sized splash pad would pump over 700 gallons per minute and would have to utilize recirculated water.
Bluegrass Splash officially closed before this season due to extensive and expensive repairs that were required to reopen. The topic was last addressed in July where city officials reviewed community surveys and talked about possibly demolishing the water park to rebuild something new.
Cost breakdown of possible indoor pool, splash pad
The following are cost estimates provided by parks and recreation for design concept. These have not been approved by the city and no investment as been made at this time.
Indoor aquatic facility concept
- Building construction: $3.2-$3.4 million
- Olympic pool construction: $1.2-$2 million
- Total facility cost: $4.5-$5.5 million
- Estimated total annual operating budget: $540,000
Splash pad concept
- Construction budget: $2.9-$3.3 million
- Estimated total annual operating budget: $365,000
Combined total cost
- Concept total cost with indoor facility and splash pad: $7.4-$8.9 million
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Next steps, comparison to Bluegrass Splash
Past suggestions by officials included rebuilding or expanding the existing water park and enclosing the structures to make it accessible all year. Hudson said this plan could cost upwards of $50 million, and expanding just the lazy river alone would be around $2.4 million.
Comparatively, when it was open Bluegrass Splash cost the city around $600,000 annually for operations and never created enough revenue to break even. Operations for this project would be nearly double but would have the opportunity for year-round revenue with the pool through admission and memberships.
Hudson said the entire project could take anywhere from a year and a half to two years to complete. Questions were raised by councilmembers about if the splash pad would be free, and if pool admission would cover all operational costs.
No action was taken to approve or deny this plan, and it was decided that parks and recreation would release another community survey to residents in order to get feedback.
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