Politics & Government
Architect Hired for Winrock Park Pool Renovation
The Oswegoland Park District inked a deal with Cordogan, Clark and Associates to design the estimated $3.5 million renovation of the Montgomery pool, which should be completed by summer 2014.
The Oswegoland Park District Board took a few steps forward Thursday night in their plan to renovate the pool in Montgomery.
The aluminum pool, off of Fernwood Road south of Route 30, is showing signs of age – it was constructed in the 1960s, along with the adjacent building and parking lot. The district plans to remove and replace the pool, along with replacing the parking lot and renovating the building, for an estimated $3.5 million, according to Interim Executive Director Rich Zielke.
In February, the board authorized borrowing up to $4 million to complete the project. The initial timeline would have seen the pool open up next spring, but Zielke said that proved too ambitious. Construction will now start in late fall, and the new pool will be ready for use in summer 2014, he said.
Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
On Thursday, the board unanimously approved a contract with Cordogan, Clark and Associates of Aurora to provide architectural services for the renovation. The firm will receive eight percent of the total cost of the project, an amount Zielke said was in line with other companies the district considered.
The board also decided to go with a general contractor, rather than a construction manager, for the job. Commissioner Len Wass said the Winrock Park project is not a large one, and a general contractor should be able to manage it just fine.
Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bruce Cairns, architect with Cordogan, Clark and Associates, agreed with Wass. He said his firm would be able to work with either a contractor or a construction manager. The important thing, he said, would be to make sure the subcontractors – particularly those replacing the pool – are qualified for that specialized work.
The new pool will be between four and five feet deep, and will include a zero-depth entrance at one end, to make it easier for those with disabilities to use it.
The Winrock Park pool is rarely open to the public now – it’s mostly used for training the district’s swim team, the Otters – and the hope is that the renovation will allow it to be open more frequently.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.