Breaking Ground
Construction of the new SMSD aquatic center is officially underway following the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The groundbreaking of the location for the aquatic center occurred at 87th Street between Elmridge and Winchester on land donated by the city of Lenexa.
“The district has wanted to build an aquatic center for a long time,” boys swim coach Cody Fothergill said. “Funding was part of the money allocated for MacBooks.”
Facilities will include a 50-meter pool for competitive swim complete with a diving well, a 25-yard pool with an adjustable floor, and a mezzanine to seat over 1,000 spectators.
Swim teams in the district will be able to reserve a pool for practices as well as meets. The aquatic center will also be open to the community.
“The pool will be used by Johnson County Parks and Rec and we’ll probably hold the state and regional meets there,” Fothergill said.
The building will take approximately 18-24 months to complete, and is expected to be open for use by the 2019-20 school year.
-Story by Grace Altenholfen
