SEARCY, Ark. (KTHV) -- The city-run water park industry continues to expand in Arkansas, and now Searcy is looking for a place to cool off with their new aquatic center.
Right now, if you drive down Higginson Street in Searcy where the new swimming pool complex will be, all you will see is dirt. Next summer, all that will change.
The last public pool built was in 1966, and now the city says it’s time for something bigger and better.
The city of Searcy just approved a $5.5 million project to build a swimming pool complex.
“Super excited it will be nice not to travel out of town,” said Ashley Marshall.
A three year drought of no fun in the sun will soon come to an end.
“I plan for them because you can’t go to the public and say I'm going to build a pool. You have to say I'm going to build a pool that’s this big and it’s going to cost this much to do and this is where it's going to go,” said Perry Carr, Vice President of ETC Engineers and Architects.
“Because a lot of people are traveling to Cabot and Jacksonville and other areas right now instead of staying here in Searcy so it would be nice to offer somewhere in Searcy where they can stay in city limits,” said Mike Parsons, Searcy Park Director.
ETC Engineering of Little Rock was in charge of building the new water park in Cabot, and now Searcy will be home to their new project.
They say safety and quality control is a responsibility they do not take lightly.
“To make sure that the contracted does a good job so he can't put in a door that's crooked,” said Parsons.
At the aquatic center, you can expect play structures for the kids both inside and outside, a therapy pool, an eight lane competition pool and seating areas.
The front of the building will be complete with a brick finish, but the back will look a little different.
“With the building being angled the way it is too during the winter months when the sun is setting towards the back of the building it will help heat the building too so we can save a little money that way,” said Parsons.
Cities like Jacksonville, White Hall and Cabot have all added a new pool to their communities.
Next on the list is Pine Bluff. The city says they hope their new aquatic center encourages the local children to learn how to swim.