‘Transformative’ park project will begin soon in O’Fallon. Here’s what it all includes
Groundbreaking on the $19.9 million Community Park enhancement project will take place on Tuesday, April 30. It includes a six-lane competition pool, leisure pool, two pool slides, ninja crossing, performing arts stage, 900 square-foot rentable room and new office space for the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department.
The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the site of the new pool on the east side of the current Memorial Pool, 411 Park Street.
Parks Director Andrew Dallner said the transformative project should be completed in about a year.
“We are hoping to be open on Memorial Day weekend 2025,” he said.
The O’Fallon Community Park, located at 401 E. Fifth St., along U.S. 50, is home to the Memorial Pool, Katy Cavins Community Center, Blazer Field, and other amenities.
The Parks Master Plan included replacing the swimming pool, adding space for community gatherings, and more hiking and biking trails. Dallner said the enhancements are to meet the needs of residents and improve quality of life, as indicated in residents’ surveys and at public meetings.
Dallner said the playground and pool improvements were the two top priority rankings in the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund surveys.
The park began its metamorphosis last summer, and the ambitious improvement plans will continue over the next several years. This will be the last season for the Memorial Pool. An All-Abilities Playground was installed last fall and a complete overhaul of the Katy Cavins Community Center is planned.
The city pool will be totally rebuilt and enlarged. The current pool, built in 1959, had become inadequate and needs major work. At that time, the town’s population was about 4,000; today it is over 30,000.
The pool also has physical issues that need to be repaired. In addition, the two sets of exit stairs are not ADA compliant and need to be accessible with a ramp or handrails to be easily manageable for all pool users. Upgrades to restrooms are also needed, as are locker rooms with amenities.
Dallner said expectations for an outdoor aquatic facility have drastically changed over the past 60 years.
A prepared report by Planning Design Studio stated recreational water has taken a more freeform shape as opposed to the traditional rectangular pools of the 1960s. It’s common for these pools to have multiple zones that include a zero-beach entry, waterslide plunge areas, moving water such as a current channel or lazy river, inflatable crossing activities and deep-water amenities such as climbing walls, drop slides and diving boards or platforms.
With the upgrades, adults can enjoy the experience and are able to closely monitor their children, the report said.
Event space near the pool will feature a performing arts stage.
New lighted walking paths will wind through the park, providing more safety for walkers.
Recently, the O’Fallon City Council approved bids for the first phase of construction, which included the administration building, pool locker rooms, pumphouse, pool, slides, performing arts stage and other site amenities.
Holland Construction Services was approved for $11,481,070 in the recommended trade contracts agreement.
Last week, the council also approved an agreement with Level It Excavating Inc. for excavating services for a parking lot at the Parks Department’s maintenance building not to exceed $36,740.
To alleviate the parking issue in the Community Park parking lot, they need to move the horticulture team from the Community Park to the maintenance facility, and that will free up 11 parking spaces. They will increase the lot size on the maintenance building’s south side.
“We will repurpose the current Horticulture building and use it to replace the lost storage from the Katy Cavins Center wrap-around shed as well as the athletic shed. The facility will also host our supplies for the Vine Street Market,” Dallner told the council.
Park Transformation
Dallner said the playground and pool improvements were the two top priority rankings in the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund surveys.
The inclusive ADA-accessible playground started construction in June in the park’s northwest corner, with funding contributed by community service organizations and local businesses, as well as the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund. Named The Playground of Champions, it opened in October 2023.
A growing movement in recent years, an inclusive playground removes barriers for kids who haven’t been able to enjoy those outside activities because of limitations. Children of all ages and abilities can play there.
Because of concerns regarding life-safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, building code related items, and other potential building operation items, it was determined that the 97-year-old community center needed a complete overhaul that would be cost-prohibitive, so it was wiser to build a new one.
To be located on the other side of Fifth Street, the new one is estimated around $5 million.
A grant has been applied for and the money would fund the building demolition and new construction, and likely be completed in 2025.
A preliminary construction report recommended a gym over a general multipurpose room for several reasons:
The gym provides much needed indoor athletic space for youth programming such as basketball and volleyball. This would also help alleviate some District 90 gym usage during the winter months.
The square footage of the facility would be equal to the Cavins Center so the department could maintain their current rental revenue for birthday parties, trivia nights, and other activities.
The added indoor athletic space would be a complement to their summer camp with indoor space that would allow campers to be inside and active during the hot summer weather.
Estimated Facility Construction Cost: $5,076,000 to $5,670,000.
A funding analysis prepared last summer for the pool project included an OSLAD grant plus bond funding using the city’s utility tax would amount to $8.5 million. The bonds were issued last November-December and this year, the bond proceeds are being invested.
The bonds to construct the public safety facility expire in 2024, and bonds to replace the pool can be paid with the same utility tax revenues, Finance Director Sandy Evans said.
A $2.8 million state grant was applied for that could be used to replace the Cavins Center. For this OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) grant, the city would be committed to match 25% of $2.8 million, in any combination of cash and in-kind contributions if the grant is awarded.
Some of the projects are among those in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2023-2027, and included in the FY25, which was approved at the April 15 council meeting.
