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Some expert sources — some as young as 6 years old — are helping shape the first significant renovations to the Basalt municipal pool since it was built in the mid-1990s.
The opinions of 115 kids from Basalt Elementary School and 93 students at Basalt High School were sought on what they would like to see at the Arbaney Swimming Pool.
A zipline was the leading request among the youngest students, along with a hot tub, lazy river floating feature, a waterfall and “more food.”
The older kids’ top preference was a hot tub followed by “more food,” a zipline, warm water and a lazy river feature.
Toni Kronberg, a longtime swimming instructor and tireless advocate for pools throughout the valley, supplied questionnaires for the kids and helped collect their thoughts.
Adults were also surveyed for their opinions.
The kids might not get everything they want, but their opinions are part of a packet of information the Basalt Town Council will examine tonight when discussing the first major pool renovations since it was built in the mid-1990s. The town hired a consultant, Connect One Design, to create a conceptual plan for the pool. The consulting staff will brief the council on the direction thus far at a council work session at 5 p.m.
“The goal is to obtain feedback from the Council on these ideas and make sure the Council is comfortable with them before the team proceeds further,” said a memo from the town staff to the council.
One of the biggest proposals is replacing the existing kiddie pool with a kids’ pool in the shape of a large robot. It would boast features such as slides for legs, fountains for eyes and a waterside bench for an arm.
Most of the proposed upgrades are functional — improving the locker rooms, adding family rooms, adding shade structures, creating a north entrance and making the energy-intensive facility “greener.”
The upgrades will have to be phased, and the town must figure out how to fund the changes.
