As Pelican Bay plans opening for the summer, officials consider millions needed to fix leaks, make updates

EDMOND — An Olympic-quality makeover at Pelican Bay is being considered as the city and its operator prepare for its upcoming swim season.

This week, members of Edmond's City Council were told by architects they could sink concerns about ongoing water loss issues with the popular attraction by covering its existing shell with one manufactured by a company that routinely builds pools for Olympic events.

Essentially, the pool's new shell using Myrtha Pools' RenovAction system would be form-fitted to and mounted inside Pelican Bay's current, concrete shell that's more than 20 years old.

"Basically, it would be a pool within a pool," Sara Andrews, a principal with GH2 Architects, told council members.

While that system is pricey (currently, the RenovAction system's estimated cost is $3.75 million), it would be guaranteed to reliably hold and circulate the pool's water without significant leaks for decades.

The Myrtha RenovAction system would come with a 25-year warranty, council members were told.

More: Edmond's Hafer Park baseball, softball fields getting upgrades to rival OKC metro's best

Council members also were told they could install another manufacturer's liner inside the existing pool's shell and upgrade its guttering and grates for an estimated cost of about $3.1 million, but were told those options' warranties were less attractive.

Finally, they were told Edmond could spend about $3 million to just make repairs to what it currently has. However, additional problems probably would come up in the near future because of the existing pool's age.

Previously, city officials estimated it could cost as much as $12 million to build an entirely new pool (not including costs for needed land).

Other Pelican Bay improvements recommended to the Edmond City Council

Beyond the pool itself, Andrews' GH2 Architects and Water Technology Inc., consultants hired to evaluate Pelican Bay's current condition, told council members the park's splash pad, play structures and buildings that house its offices, concessions and changing rooms need refreshed, too.

Other improvements recommended include upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, replacing the park's play structures and improving its slides (the park's signature pelican would stay), replacing the pool's depth markers and reconfiguring, repairing or replacing the pool's pipes and pumps.

None of the work has been designed or competitively bid, but the consultants told the council costs to upgrade the pool itself could range from about $5.2 million for the cheapest option to about $6.3 million if Myrtha Pools' system was used. Council members also were warned the projects total cost would be more once fees for needed project-specific designs are included and bids for the work actually are sought.

If the council finds the money, hires a design architect and seeks bids from contractors for the system's installation and other needed improvements by early next year, city officials plan to continue operating the pool as planned both this summer and next. The replacement would be installed during the winter of 2025-26.

"When all this is done, it is going to look like a brand new facility," Andrews said.

Pelican Bay has been leaking thousands of gallons of water per day

More than 50,000 visits were made to the 17-acre aquatic wonderland by area residents during the summer of 2023. But that same year, its pool leaked about 20,000 gallons of water daily.

After it closed for the season and was emptied of water, Edmond hired a company to analyze how that water was escaping.

Edmond's Parks and Recreation department spent about $40,000 to address the two most serious problems that consultant found. It also resurfaced Pelican Bay's slides and made other minor improvements to the park to "make it a good season," said Brad Raney, the department's director.

The city plans to fill the pool this week and will work with its operator to prepare it for the summer swim season that starts Memorial Day weekend, Raney said. Officials told the council they would bring back a proposed contract to hire GH2 to draw up specific designs later this month.

Council members indicated they wanted to pursue using the Myrtha Pools system.

"I have driven by that pool, and it gets packed. It is definitely a used resource for many kids and families and different events. It is well worth the investment," Councilman Tom Robins said.

"Not that I love spending more money, but when looking at the warranties, I feel like it (the Myrtha Pools system) is the best use of our money," Councilmember Kristin Mugg said.

"If we are going to fix it, we should fix it right, and I really like having the warranty with it," agreed Councilmember Stacie Peterson.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Olympic pool builder could be brought in to fix Edmond's Pelican Bay