Does anyone have any inside information on the new Edmond Aquatic Center at Mitch Park? It was my understanding that this was a partnership between the City of Edmond, Edmond Public Schools and the YMCA. However, I heard the rumor that Chesapeake made a donation and their swim team will get to use the pool. Does that sound right? It sounds like that pool is going to be very busy......

Yes, I think your general information is correct.

I've followed this because my good friend's daughter swims for Edmond North and Chesapeake Swim Club.


I'll find the details and post them later, but it's going to be an amazing facility and one desperately needed.

Here this link: Edmond, OK - Official Website - Edmond Recreation and Aquatic Center (http://edmondok.com/index.aspx?nid=1038)

Here the entire photo gallery: Edmond, OK - Official Website (http://edmondok.com/gallery.aspx?AID=40)

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=236

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=235

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=234

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=233

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=232

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=231

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=230

http://edmondok.com/PhotoViewScreen.aspx?PID=229

I'll try and snap a few photos tomorrow.

Here is a video visualization:

BSMZ4FAjx_o

''As of August 20, work continues to progress at a good pace with the project being 80% complete. The facility is still planned to open by the end of the year. The YMCA will soon begin marketing their membership fees and promotions later this fall''

Edmond, OK - Official Website - September 2013 - Update (http://edmondok.com/index.aspx?nid=1117)

Aquatic center expected to be ready before new year
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Completion of the Edmond Recreation and Aquatic Center is anticipated by the end of December, City Manager Larry Stevens reported to the City Council this week.

The $22.5 million Edmond Recreation and Aquatic Center is being constructed next to the Multi-Activity Center at Mitch Park. This 102,000-square-foot facility is a partnership by the City of Edmond, YMCA and the Edmond Public Schools.

The facility will offer an Olympic-size swimming pool, fitness area, an indoor elevated running track and a large separate leisure pool, according to the city.

- See more at: Aquatic center expected to be ready before new year » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x250213426/Aquatic-center-expected-to-be-ready-before-new-year#sthash.PmLRZ3wt.dpuf)

This is kind of a different topic, but my family is excited about the word of a splash pad at Kelly & Main. Before now if you wanted to go to one in the summer, you had to go to OKC.

This is kind of a different topic, but my family is excited about the word of a splash pad at Kelly & Main. Before now if you wanted to go to one in the summer, you had to go to OKC.

I guess that would be in the vicinity of the rocketship park and those softball fields?

Yes, it's going to take the place of the softball field on the SouthWest, it sounds like. Not real sure why they didn't just put it in Chitwood park though, seems like that would have made more sense, but either way...

This is kind of a different topic, but my family is excited about the word of a splash pad at Kelly & Main. Before now if you wanted to go to one in the summer, you had to go to OKC.That's awesome. I have heard somewhere that Edmond was planning on installing around 3-4 of these at various locations. . . this is great news!!!

This is kind of a different topic, but my family is excited about the word of a splash pad at Kelly & Main. Before now if you wanted to go to one in the summer, you had to go to OKC.It is now confirmed!

''City to add splash park at Kelly ball fields
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — The city is preparing to construct its first splash pad project, said Larry Stevens, city manager. Children will be able to enjoy a new recreational venue at Barnett Field, located at the northeast corner of Kelly Avenue and facing Main Street.

A $300,000 allocation for the Barnett Spash Pad will be paid for by the parks sales tax, Stevens said. A permanent tax of 0.125 percent is for operations and improvement costs of the city’s parks and recreation system, according to the city.

“We’re going to bid that in the near future,” Stevens said. “And we anticipate the completion will occur before the summer season starts next year.”

- See more at: City to add splash park at Kelly ball fields » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x2112872819/City-to-add-splash-park-at-Kelly-ball-fields#sthash.O84Ew3tq.dpuf)

Aren't you a bit too old to get this excited about splash pads, PP?

Aren't you a bit too old to get this excited about splash pads, PP?I'm not really that excited about the splash pads for me; more so for the development of the community parks. . .

These were taken yesterday by a friend:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/edacquatic1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/edacquatic2.jpg

Some of the employees at the Y on Rankin have said the new Y at Mitch Park is supposed to open around the first of Feb. From what they're saying it sounds like it really is going to be a great facility.

Any update on this?

The Mitch Park YMCA and aquatic center opens February 3, 2014:

YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City > Locations > MITCH PARK (http://www.ymcaokc.org/Locations/MITCHPARK.aspx)

From The City of Edmond's website: Latest Update
The “Mitch Park YMCA” is nearly complete! The long anticipated project continues to progress at a good pace with the grand opening planned for the first of February. The YMCA has started their promotions for the new facility. Contact them at 405.348.9622 for more information. You don’t want to miss out on the good deals!

Edmond, OK - Official Website - Edmond Recreation and Aquatic Center (http://edmondok.com/index.aspx?nid=1038)

I took some night photos-they're not very good though-I'll post them later

Grand opening set for Feb. 3, 2014
Patty Miller
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City has announced the official grand opening of the new Mitch Park Y, which will take place on Feb. 3, 2014. A beautiful $22.5 million-plus, 102,000-square-foot facility will offer traditional YMCA programs for all ages.

In 2010 Edmond Board of Education members voted to enter into a $10 million interlocal cooperative agreement with the City of Edmond, which pledged $6 million, and the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA, which also pledged $6 million.

The City of Edmond, in the designated 2000 Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund, held $6 million that was set aside to meet the citizens’ request for a second swimming facility. The city contributed the land at Mitch Park next to the multipurpose activity center and also will contribute the infrastructure such as an additional road and utilities.

The Edmond School District’s $10 million investment came in part from the October 2010 bond issue voted for by Edmond residents.

This is the first time a YMCA, a school district and a city have joined together in a project in Oklahoma’s history, said President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA Mike Grady.

The Mitch Park Y has an Olympic-size swimming pool, fitness area, an indoor elevated running track and a large separate leisure pool with a children’s slide that seems to magically exit the building through a wall, then return to the inside for an exciting ride available to YMCA members.

http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1005133709/g00025800000000000073bfc8428a068d2620ef9104d081344 e485189a4.jpg

http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1186898085/g000258000000000000a5f335097cbfe2542e6b0d0e05e8569 95f13ef19.jpg

http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1005133747/g000258000000000000bc65c53fa7a91aeaf63e6902dc4c809 32fceb27c.jpg

Amenities of the Mitch Park YMCA include:

• 1/8 scale indoor suspended track for running and walking, large group exercise studio for classes such as; Body Pump, Zumba, boot camp classes, medium group exercise studio for specialty classes, such as cycling, yoga and pilates X-Arcade, which will contain interactive fitness equipment for kids of all ages;

• Full-sized gymnasium for sports such as basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and indoor soccer;

• Birthday party rooms;

• Supervised child watch play area;

• Dedicated locker rooms for youth, adults and families;

• 40,000-square-foot aquatic center complete with competitive natatorium boasting a 50-meter Olympic-size pool which will serve the aquatic needs for the Edmond Public Schools. The district plans to utilize the competition pool for Edmond Public Schools high school swim training, practices, matches and meets, as well as scheduled use by special needs students and other aquatic and water safety educational purposes. There will also be locker rooms, offices and a concession area. Thias portion of the facility will provide one of the top venues in the state to view competitive swimming with fixed seating for 800 spectators and pull-out seating for 300;

• Natatorium also includes a leisure pool with dedicated lap swimming and swim lesson space, play dish with spray features, toys and slide for kids and a swim area with vortex for resistance training or play;

• Stand alone 130-foot water slide winding outside the building and back in with a splash down;

• 9,000-square-foot wellness center that overlooks the competitive natatorium. It will have cardio and strength equipment;

• Lots of social space to hang out and enjoy time together with friends.

“We have needed a 21st century facility that will fill the future needs of the community for some time,” said Edmond’s YMCA Director Mike Roark.

- See more at: Grand opening set for Feb. 3, 2014 » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1186898105/Grand-opening-set-for-Feb-3-2014#sthash.5PPNYeck.dpuf)

I have also taken a few night shots, will post later

That slide is cool as hell!

Thanks for posting.

I'd like to see OKC build a huge aquatic center down by the river as part of MAPS 4, which should focus on recreation/fitness and public transportation IMO.

Mitch Park YMCA discounts near end » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1956159341/Mitch-Park-YMCA-discounts-near-end)

Edmond School Board members, administration give Mitch Park Y the nod
New facility scheduled to open for business Feb. 3

Patty Miller
Special to The Sun

EDMOND — Edmond School District School Board members and members of the Edmond School District administration team toured the almost completed Mitch Park Y Monday.

The Mitch Y was built as a collaborative effort combining the skills and fund raising of three Edmond entities, the Edmond School District, the YMCA and the City of Edmond.

“I think that the new pool is not only a facility that will benefit our students and our athletes but the community as a whole,” said School Board President Jamie Underwood. “I am so proud and thankful of the collaborative effort between the city, the Y and the school district. I would also like to thank the taxpayers for their support of our school bond which helped make this possible. It is certainly something Edmond residents will be able to use, and it is an outstanding facility we can be very proud of.”

Edmond School Board members voted to enter into a $10 million interlocal cooperative agreement with the City of Edmond pledging $6 million and the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA pledging $6 million also.

A bond issue put to the vote of the people enabled the school district to fulfill its part while the City of Edmond designated a Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund in 2000 holding aside $6 million to meet the voters’ request for a second swimming facility.

The $22.5 million recreation and aquatic center is 103,000 square feet and includes a family leisure pool with lap lanes and play equipment, an eight-lane, 50-meter competition pool, as well as workout areas and walking lane.

“The cooperative effort by the Y, the City of Edmond, and the Edmond School District has resulted in a state-of-the art facility that every Edmond citizen can be proud to claim,” said School Board member Lee Ann Kuhlman. “It will provide our Edmond students with not only a training and competitive site, but will also give our community additional opportunities to participate in a variety of activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit the new facility following its opening in February.”

The Y has contributed an additional $191,563 for its part of construction costs and a total of $535,000 came from the city’s park tax to pay for parking lot improvements.

Edmond’s Assistant City Manager Steve Commons said Edmond Electric contributed to the project by donating $642,000 for the geothermal cooling and heating system and drilling of the 300 geothermal wells located west of the building.

“This will help control and balance the heating and air with the heat of the earth,” Commons said. “The City at large has spent money on an access road from Santa Fe and landscaping in part will be coming from the park tax fund.”

- See more at: Edmond School Board members, administration give Mitch Park Y the nod » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1767981220/Edmond-School-Board-members-administration-give-Mitch-Park-Y-the-nod#sthash.eDAZ1Bhr.dpuf)


http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1767981198/g0002580000000000009c43b578365fa33dbde7fd307ee8bf8 ddc1e07bd.jpg

Really looking forward to the opening of the new Y/Aquatic Center. I've been a member of the Y on Rankin for 30 years and that location is maxed out. This new center along with Mitch Park, Hafer Park, Lake Arcadia and the numerous other parks through-out the city are tremendous assets for Edmond.

Beautiful swim complex!

OKC needs more quality pools; would be a huge boost to youth swimming programs and recreation in general.

My friend's daughter swims for Edmond North and prior to this facility they were working out and holding most their meets at Oklahoma Christian on Memorial. I went to one of her meets and it was horrible... No stands, very crowded, pool water cloudy, etc.

OCCC on the southside has a very nice complex. Would really like to see another added by the river at some point.

OCCC on the southside has a very nice complex. Would really like to see another added by the river at some point.

I took a class at OCCC (Pre-Civil War History) & the classroom it was in had a window & on the other side of the window is the pool. My professor said something along the lines of it was up to Olympic standards.

Any rate, this is a very beautiful complex. I'm impressed with it (from the pictures at least).

The OCCC pool was built for the 1989 Olympic festival.

I went to a bunch of the swimming and diving events.

Here is an update on this... Btw, it officially opens in less than a week.


Edmond swimmers take first dip at aquatic center
Mitch Park facility to open Monday

Scott Wanish
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Edmond high school swimmers took their first plunge into their new home for athletics Wednesday afternoon.

Edmond Public Schools opened its own strikingly-spacious swimming pool and the longtime swimming coach for all three high schools was euphoric to see it.

“I’m thankful God let me see this,” Edmond swim coach Steve Riggs said while shaking his head. “Today is one of the most exciting days of Edmond swimming. It is state-of-the-art, Olympic-sized, and it is home for us.”

The Edmond Schools Aquatic Center is part of the Mitch Park YMCA on Marilyn Williams Drive.

- See more at: Edmond swimmers take first dip at aquatic center » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1768009064/Grand-Opening#sthash.tyGgstpY.dpuf)

http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1768009050/g000258000000000000a15dba467518fc2847d062d63e52afa b4b62560f.jpg

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http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x1768009054/g0002580000000000006868957d90e7bbfeadc191c2ce83804 4b3a4fecc.jpg

New pool is everything Edmond's swimmers could dream of | News OK (http://newsok.com/new-pool-is-everything-edmonds-swimmers-could-dream-of/article/3928478)

First day open and the parking lot is already completely full! What is it with Edmond? This place needs more parking! Can you imagine how bad it will be for a large meet? I realize parking is in the code, but maybe it needs to be revised.....

First day open and the parking lot is already completely full! What is it with Edmond? This place needs more parking! Can you imagine how bad it will be for a large meet? I realize parking is in the code, but maybe it needs to be revised.....

I lifted weights yesterday around 5:30 pm, so during the "evening rush". The back of the building has a parking lot that was completely empty. I'm not sure if it was blocked off, but I could see it from the weight room. There might be a problem with parking during baseball/softball tournaments (weekends) on nice days where there are a lot of people at the park/ballfields/Y. That could be crazy.

This place is VERY nice for a YMCA. It blows the Downtown and Edmond Y out of the water easily. The cardio, weight machines, and free weights are brand new and "modern". There were dozens of people swimming in the competition pool. Nobody was in the leisure pool, so maybe it wasn't open.

I've been going to the Y on Rankin since the early eighties, so last night I decided to check out the new one. There must have been several hundred people there either working out, swimming or just walking around. The family pool is going to be a terrific place to take kids. As far as parking is concerned, there were plenty of spots available in back and across the main drive into Mitch Park....however, I agree, once baseball/softball season kicks off it could become an issue.

It's a beautiful facility and is going to be a great asset for Edmond.

Here's a video of the Y made a few weeks ago


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AfOxhNmIYI

attended regionals this past weekend. lane 1 cannot be seen from most areas of the stands. also, for a meet as large as regionals (about 500 swimmers) the seating in the stands was extremely tight. for a regular meet during the season it would probably be ok. i wonder what state will be like this weekend. my understanding was the deck was pretty crowded also. OCCC holds meets with the same number of swimmers and never has these problems.

^

Yes my good friend's daughter swims for Edmond North and said the same thing about not being able to see Lane 1.

Still, just a gorgeous facility. Would love to see something similar near the OK River to really help promote swimming in OKC.

Edmond now has this and Norman has the OU swim center for their clubs and high schools, and consequently the high school teams in those two cities are way better than anyone else.

Swimming is a sport where you need great facilities, otherwise lots of kids get left out.

daughter came home yesterday saying there's a rumor state will be in jenks next year as the ossaa received a lot of complaints about the edmond pool. it's great for practice, but it's a shame they won't be able to host anything bigger than an average high school meet.

Mitch Park YMCA expansion

- City eyes $143M in new projects » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1396847534/City-eyes-143M-in-new-projects)

Glad they are looking at this!