City Commissioners will consider during their Feb. 7 meeting approving a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant agreement with the Park and Recreation Department for the demolition of the Natatorium.

The proposal includes the removal of the Nat building, plus the installation of a new play structure, sidewalks and an updated basketball court.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall.

City plans to demolish Natatorium by end of June

Commissioners voted unanimously during their Jan. 17 meeting to approve a $34,250 professional services agreement with TD&H Engineering for design and construction phases to support the demolition of the 17,200 square foot Natatorium, which has been closed since the end of 2018.

The decision to close the Nat came after bricks fell off the exterior of the building in early 2018, exposing additional problems with the façade and roof with repairs at an estimated $539,834 to $613,088.

The Natatorium is located at 2nd Avenue North and 12th Street.

The planning phase is funded by park maintenance district funds, Herrig said.

Construction progressing on city’s new indoor aquatic facility

If commissioners approved the CDBG funds, Herrig said the city will go out for bids for demolition that has to be completed by the end of June under the grant agreement.

The Natatorium is being replaced by the indoor aquatic and recreation center currently under construction in Lions Park.

City approves contract changes for indoor aquatics center

The current Nat was built in 1966, after its predecessor on the same site was closed in 1963 due to significant settling throughout the building causing walls to shift, the pool to leak and the foundation to crack, according to a memo from City Manager Greg Doyon during the city’s 2018 budget process, which included multiple public meetings.

A 2011 study found masonry staining, groundwater concerns, water leakage in the basement and other nonstructural issues. The high water table at the site was also a concern in the report and it recommended projects totaling $997,114 that should be done over 1 to 50 years, according to city records.

Proposed pool fee increases small; aquatics program facing larger budgetary challenges

Since then, the city partially removed the top of nonbearing load walls to allow for foundational movement, mud jacking and door replacement.

Since 2004, the city completed more than $357,939 in repairs including roof repairs, ventilation tunnels around the pool were filled with concrete since they were in danger of collapsing, a new pool liner, drain pipe liner, boiler replacement, pool desk resurfacing, asbestos testing, southwest corner to women’s locker room lifted due to cracks and settling in foundation, doors and door jams replaced.