In association with Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation, we studied the current conditions of 11 existing outdoor aquatic facilities operated by the park and recreation department. Part of this process included meetings and discussions with park and recreation staff, and individual interviews with members of the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, and other public meetings that helped define the options to be explored by the city. During the course of these meetings, several issues surfaced.

• The physical condition of 11 existing audited pools is such that major renovation or replacement was needed.
• The functional condition of 11 existing audited pools was categorized as obsolete. The amenities that attract users to pools were not in place.
• The existing pools were small and designed as neighborhood facilities in lieu of family aquatic facilities that offer program opportunities to a wide variety of user groups.
• Declining annual attendance at KCMO pools, created a substantial subsidy.

The study included the tasks of performing a facility audit for each of the existing facilities as well as an in-depth review of the feasibility for developing new outdoor aquatic facilities. From the research performed, the city made a decision to renovate one of the oldest existing facilities. In 2003, Counsilman/Hunsaker & Associates replaced the existing below grade pipe, renovated the pool gutter system, completed renovation of the pool’s filter and chemical filtration systems, and added a new water sprayground.

The city also voted to build a new outdoor aquatic center in Kansas City, Missouri, which will be completed in 2005. Counsilman/Hunsaker & Associates is currently designing an outdoor 50-meter competition pool and a separate 12,000 outdoor leisure area that includes zero beach entry, participatory play features, lazy river, vortex, waterslides and a sprayground.

(Completed through Counsilman / Hunsaker & Associates prior to the formation of PIVOT Recreation Resources.)