Photo: City of Ames
(Ames, IA) -- Residents in central Iowa, especially in the northern half of the Des Moines metro, will have more options for wellness and swimming in the coming year. Construction of the new Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center broke ground earlier this year.
"We anticipate completion sometime in late 2025," said Courtney Kort, Recreation Superintendent with Ames Parks and Recreation. "As we know, with construction, that could change, but that's our anticipated timeline at this point."
Kort says it comes after the city was able to initiate the swimming pool portion of a larger planned wellness center project that was turned down by voters.
"Unfortunately, that went out to a vote in 2019, and did not pass through vote, but the city council here in Ames knew the need to have an indoor aquatics facility, here for the community and surrounding areas," Kort said. She says the building will include space for meeting rooms, and space to grow.
The city says the facility will be a one-story building and contain a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool, a zero-depth entry pool with a play structure, a current channel, a wellness pool, and slide. Additionally, two multi-purpose rooms with a walking area will be included in the facility.
The new aquatic center is being built at 115 North Elm, just off of Lincoln Way. They are looking for public input on aquatic programs and schedules through an online survey. That can be found HERE.
As far as fees for use, or memberships, Kort says that's still in the planning stages, and they're looking at some of the survey input before deciding on those totals.