City inquires about outdoor aquatic center

A new outdoor water park could make its way to North Ridgeville.

The Parks and Recreation Department and Brandstetter Carroll Inc. had a public meeting Feb. 16 to get residents’ input on an outdoor family aquatic center.

Brandstetter Carroll is an architectural and engineering firm for public, private, educational and institutional projects throughout the United States.

In 2016, the Parks and Recreation hired Brandstetter Carroll to perform a feasibility study, according to Kevin Fougerousse, director of North Ridgeville’s parks and recreation.

“We kicked off this project about a month ago,” Fougerousse said. “And our first approach is to engage our resident base.”

Nancy Nozik, principal architecture, began the meeting explaining some of the features water parks typically contain include slides, spray grounds, picnic shelters and a lazy river.

The proposed site for the aquatic center would be on two parcels located near the Lorain Public Library System’s North Ridgeville Branch, 35700 Bainbridge Road. One parcel is about six acres and the other is about 12 acres.

The second part of the meeting was open for residents to ask questions and provide input.

John Klembarsky, of North Ridgeville, said the aquatic center would be a nice addition to the community.

“It’s something we need and its good family entertainment,” Klembarsky said.

There is no cost set for the center because it is dependent on what features would be in the facility. However, an aquatic center typically ranges in costs between $3 million and $4 million, Nozik said.

Pat Hoagland, landscape architect, said typical operations will be between $200,000 and $300,000 annually depending on what they develop and most of it will be staff.

Since the study is ongoing, there is not a set date when the park would open.

Construction typically starts in the fall and last until spring with hopes of the pool being open by Memorial Day, Nozik said.

A North Ridgeville resident asked why the city hasn’t looked into building a recreational center.

“We are working with the schools to possibly have a community gym that our residents want,” Fougerousse said. “We realize that trying to build a $18 million to $20 million recreation center with a possible operating cost about $1.5 million is just not feasible for our residents right now.”

“It would be extremely irresponsible for my department to look at that right now”

Resident Jocelyn Graves brought her 12-year-old son Bradley Dudek to the meeting.

“I think its a good idea and a way to give kids something to do,” Graves said.

Bradley added, “I think it would be a fun place to hangout with friends.”

Another meeting with the same presentation runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 20, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Road.