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Fergus Falls officials get progress report on new aquatic center; city aims to open after Memorial Day 2025
Summary
City staff reported substantial construction progress on the new Fergus Falls aquatic center, with an internal turnover to the city targeted just before Memorial Day and public opening shortly after. Officials said the project remains largely on budget with remaining contingencies.
City staff provided an update Monday on the new Fergus Falls aquatic center, reporting that most interior work is complete and the city is targeting turnover to the city just prior to Memorial Day with a public opening shortly after.
Bridal Yavara, identified at the start of the presentation as the city engineer, called Brian (city staff member) forward for a detailed status report. Brian said trades have completed most interior masonry and partition walls and that subcontractors are progressing on plumbing and electrical fixtures. "We're anticipating in opening our turnover to the city just prior to Memorial Day with hopefully an opening just after Memorial Day of 2025," Brian said.
The presentation reviewed remaining exterior work: metal roof coping, masonry wall washing and sealing, finishing exterior concrete connections to Randolph Avenue, pool plastering and sunshades. Brian said interior cleaning and sealing are under way and that most interior walls for changing facilities are about 95 percent complete.
On budget, Brian told the council the project "is looking very well," with only small contingencies remaining and an expectation the project will remain within the current contingency levels now that the structure is above ground.
Council members asked about operations and staffing. Brian said operational planning — including fee structure comparisons with nearby pools — is starting; the parks and recreation staff will lead fee and operations decisions and will begin recruiting lifeguards and a pool manager. In response to a question about beach lifeguards, Brian said lifeguards at the beach are not planned: "That's not our intent," he said, clarifying that beach swimming will be at users' own risk.
Council members also asked about a stormwater retention pond adjacent to the sliding hill. Brian said the pond is intended as a shallow filtration/dry pond and was not planned to be fenced. He noted markers are in place and the design does not create a permanent deep-water hazard.
The council requested staff post the large project images shown at the meeting to the city's website after resolving technical difficulties with the chamber presentation system.
The council directed parks staff to continue the operational planning work and to bring staffing and fee recommendations to the city as those details are finalized.
