City adjusts pool hours at new facility due to usage

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Jenn Rowell

wp-17141678153933549090233220857748 - The Electric

The Scheels Aim High Big Sky Recreation Center has adjusted its operating hours for the recreational pool

The hours, beginning in early March, are Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7:30 p.m.

The pool will be closed 1-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The rest of the week’s operating hours are:

Fridays: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This schedule runs through June 1, according to Great Falls Park and Recreation.

Steve Herrig, Park and Rec director told The Electric that they weren’t seeing any use during that afternoon block, so staff decided to use back hours to save on expenses.

Herrig said that the facility had been fully staffed since September with the exception of the facility coordinator, but a person started in that position March 10.

Herrig said that as of March, the numbers for the new facility, which opened in July 2024, were running below budgeted levels for both revenues and expenses.

He said the facility has been well received by those using it, but it was still to early to tell how the budget numbers would pan out.

The 2016 park master plan included a combined indoor aquatic and recreation facility a visionary project but no funding was available.

In 2018, voters approved the park maintenance district and the Natatorium façade failed and the facility was closed by the end of the year. It was demolished last fall.

City’s new aquatic facility open

The city had been looking at options to replace indoor swimming or the Nat when the grant opportunity from the U.S. Defense Department opened.

The city was awarded a $10 million grant through DOD and matched that with $10 million through the park district.

The city considered several locations before settling on Lions Park, which City Manager Greg Doyon said during the facility opening was centrally located for residents and both Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard, which will use the facility for training.

City’s new aquatic center opening reschedule for July 9

The new indoor aquatics and recreation facility is about 45,000 square feet of new construction and the project included site work such as excavation, new utility extensions, new parking lots, playgrounds and landscaping.

The building is multi-functional and includes a recreation pool, lap pool, gym, fitness center, walking track, multipurpose room, party room, locker rooms, restrooms, child watch area, attractive lobby with seating and fireplace, reception area, offices, storage and mechanical rooms and an elevator.

Opening of city’s new aquatic center postponed

The facility is city-owned and managed, but will also help the military with their water training needs for both Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guard. Military members will also pay membership fees to use the facility.

City Commissioners unanimously approved a budget amendment for the new aquatic facility in June 2024.

Commissioners adopted their budget for the previous fiscal year in July 2023.

That budget ran from July 1, 2023 to June 30.

City approves new recreation fees, including fees for new aquatics facility

The budget for the new aquatic center wasn’t included in that budget due to variables with construction and opening the facility, according to staff, and they decided to present an individual budget closer to its opening.

The proposed budget amendments address construction costs, one-time startup purchases, fundraising costs and a three-month operation budget.

The original construction budget was $20,000,000 with $10,000,000 coming from a federal grant and the other half from debt service through the park maintenance district.

Through eight change orders over the construction project, the total is now estimated at $21,062,164.75.

The additional construction cost, staff said last summer, was being funded by:

$622,723 in donations
$339,278 from park maintenance district assessments
$87,434 from a tourism grant

The brief project budget summary so far in September 2-24, according to city staff, was:

architectural services: budgeted $1,885,109, expended $1,769,057.85
construction services: budgeted $18,997,974.43, expended $18,048,075.68
miscellaneous construction/professional services: expended $166,351.58
total cost budgeted $21,049,453.43, total paid, $19,817,133.53

The city awarded a contract to Swank Construction for $18,349,000 in November 2022. That included a base bid of $17,995,000 and an alternative for $354,000.

The eighth change order, approved by commissioners in September, was not included in the original $20 million budget.

Change orders two through seven are being paid with fundraising commitments, according the city, but not all of the actual cash pledges have been received by the city, according to the staff report. In some cases, those pledges will be received in installments over time.

Last year, city finance officials said Park and Rec hadn’t requested to use additional park district funds, but funds from the park district, park special revenue fund and aquatics fund may be needed to complete the one-time startup costs, three month operations budget and/or be used to cover donations not yet received, according to city finance staff.

For background on the new aquatic facility, see our previous coverage:

City Commission approves aquatic center change order

City’s new aquatic facility open

City’s new aquatic center opening rescheduled for July 9

Opening of city’s new aquatic center postponed

New city aquatic center opening set

New aquatic facility set to open late June; city amending its budget, holding frog slide naming contest

City approves aquatic center change order, Nat demo payment; discusses funding for new facility

City Commission to consider aquatic center change order during April 16 meeting

City approves new recreation fees, including fees for new aquatics facility

City proposes fee structure for new aquatics center; planning June opening

Commission approves aquatic center change order