Mill Hall Pool designs shared with public

By Christopher Miller

MILL HALL, PA – The Mill Hall Pool Steering Committee met Tuesday evening at the borough office to discuss a chosen potential design concept and to gather public input.

The committee met with Aquatic Facility Design, Inc., the design consultant and architect from Millersburg who had been asked to be part of the feasibility study and to provide a concept of what could be the new Mill Hall Pool.

Brent Boyer, a designer with Aquatic Facility Design led the discussion and presentation to the committee and public. 

“The current pool is a still water pool – there’s really not many features to it and you really want things to do that will keep people coming back,” Brent said. “There’s a lot of water loss, the skimmer line is leaking, joints in the floor are leaking, but the return system and mechanicals are in good working order.”

Thanks to core samples taken of the pool, Aquatic Facility Design determined that the sample and rebar is sound which speaks to the same condition of the existing pool structure, “so you’re starting off with something good,” Brent said.

The current pool complex can serve up to 485 people but is lacking in ADA accessibility features. As well, the current pool offers seven swim lanes, but they are not competition width.

The new pool design concept that was presented includes many new features for the pool complex.

Changes being made to the pool include enlarging the lanes to competition widths, reinstalling a diving board, floatable tethered pool toys, the installation of a new stainless steel gutter system for recycling pool water, and replacing close to 95% of the old piping around the pool, and 4 spaces for lifeguard stations, tube slide, and a basketball net.

Design concepts also include the installation of a brand new wading pool for infants and toddlers complete with shade umbrellas, a family slide, water sprays, benches, and in-water lounge seating.

What may be included in these renovations or chosen to be rebuilt in the future is the bath house. The current structure lacks ADA features such as wider doorways. Design concepts for ADA compliance feature wider doorways and passages, showers, and bathroom stalls.

The price tag associated with the project, which the steering committee is working diligently to secure a grant to offset project costs, is an estimated $1.3 to $1.6 million, but depend on contractor bids and the ability to secure additional project grant funding.

In total, the new user load (amount of people the pool can serve at one time) is increased to 544 total – 79 persons in the wading area, 465 in and around the main pool area.

The deadline to apply for the grant is approaching quickly and the team is ready to tackle the application head-on.

The public is reminded that the concept designs are still subject to change and are not set in stone. Public survey results were received by the concept designers and will be released to the steering committee within days. Comments contained within the surveys may impact the overall planning and decision making process.

Looking ahead into the future, designer Brent offered these words: “this is something you can be proud of when you accomplish it.”