Updated features proposed for Maytag Pool

Snow may cover much of the currently unfilled and sealed Maytag Pool, but city staff still plan to make improvements to the municipal swimming facility before the ice thaws.

After completing the Maytag Pool waterslide rehabilitation project about $41,000 under budget, the City of Newton Parks and Recreation Department has decided to use the remaining funds to replace other aging amenities, Community Services Manager Brian Laube said at the Jan. 16 Newton Park Board meeting.

“Pretty much anything we’re proposing to replace or update is stuff that is original,” Laube said of the public pool, which completed its waterslides rehabilitation project a few months ago.

Last year, a bond budget of $80,000 was originally allocated for pool improvements. The Newton City Council’s approved the a significantly reduced bid of $39,500 from SlidePros, of Oronogo, Mo., to carry out the rehabilitation work to both waterslides.

With the remaining funds, the parks and recreation department intends to replace the awnings over the concession stands and ticket windows. Laube said the overhead structures will be the same color of blue to match one of the newly repainted waterslides.

At least two of the windows will be replaced in the concession stand, as well as one of the basketball hoops near the pool deck area. Staff also plan to equip the pool with new diving boards and refinish the picnic benches.

“I think (the cosmetic changes) freshens up the overall appearance of the pool,” Laube said. “Simply put, things need to be maintained down there. And these are just some of those things … It’s like with any city park or building, we’re going to have to keep it up to date.”

Laube said the department is also exploring the option of moving the ticket sales counter to the east concession stand window, allowing for the person working that particular area to sell both tickets and concessions. Laube said the move would raise efficiency and reduce the amount of staff Maytag Pool needs to operate.

Recently, Laube said the parks and recreation department was able to secure a collection of steel lockers from the old Berg Middle School to use at Maytag Pool. Laube said some of the plastic lockers already stationed at the swimming pool may be put on a skid to keep outside as ready-to-use cubbyholes.

“We were always looking for different cost savings ways,” Laube said. “And sometimes projects like that come along where we can partner with other groups, get things maybe at a salvage auction or do things like that … These lockers will provide a little more security.”

Prior to the rehabilitation work, the Maytag Pool waterslides were noticeably weather-beaten and had deteriorated after more than 20 years to UV exposure and chlorinated water. The two slides, originally installed in 1997, were still in generally good condition and safe to use despite their appearance.

Rehab crews transformed the once off-gray flume into a white-and-blue slide and the forest green (or darker gray) tube into a bright yellow slide. The rehabilitation project is expected to add an estimated 15 to 20 years of life to the waterslides.

A month ago, the Newton City Council approved a new fee structure for Maytag Pool, which increased the daily fee, lap swim and toddler swim prices by $0.50 — changing the daily fee from $4.50 to $5, while the lap/toddler swim increases from $2 to $2.50. The single season pass fee was also lowered from $55 to $50. Pool party pricing was restructured and the punch pass was eliminated.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com