Waukee may fund aquatic center through 2024 referendum
The City of Waukee may ask voters in November 2024 to approve funding for an aquatic facility.
In the meantime, it’s figuring out what exactly the community may want. Waukee City Council members on Oct. 16 approved creating a committee to evaluate the city’s options ahead of a bond referendum in 2024.
The growing suburb does not yet have a public pool or aquatic center.
City spokesperson Heather Behrens told the Des Moines Register in an email the city is working with a consultant to conduct a public survey and hold community meetings to gather perspectives on what people might want in an aquatic facility.
That will inform details on a budget, features and location to be proposed in the future, Behrens said.
There’s no immediate timeline on when that final plan will be presented, Behrens said, but the public feedback will inform a final report for the City Council and staff.
There are eight appointed members to the committee and council member Ben Sinclair will serve as a liason.
Behrens said the committee’s members represent Waukee’s diversity, including in age, whether or not they have children, and whether they rent or own their home. She added some members also have ties to community and regional organizations.
Waukee is not the only metro community considering its options for a future aquatic facility.
The Johnston City Council earlier in October approved a consultant to do a feasibility study on the potential market for an aquatic center there.
John Schmitz, Johnston Parks and Recreation director, told the Des Moines Register there’s no construction timeline to build or open an aquatic center. The consultant’s study, which will take about six to eight months, will need to be done first before the council moves forward with any plans.
Schmitz said Johnston’s options might include a full aquatic center with features including pools and slides, a simpler neighborhood pool that’s a place to swim but doesn’t have a lot of features, and additional neighborhood splash pads.
Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @pslifeisabeauty.