By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield’s plans for a new aquatic center took another step forward on June 15.

The city’s Board of Public Works signed off on the final plans for what would replace the 86-year-old Hefko Pool on Marshfield’s south side, and recommended sending those plans out for bids. That recommendation goes to the full Common Council on June 23.

Parks & Recreation Director Justin Casperson said the proposed new aquatic center would include lap lanes, two diving boards, three water slides, a water play structure, a climbing wall, a new concession stand, a family changing room, reservable shelters, and plenty of shade structures.

Casperson said:

The board also signed off on plans and authorization to seek bids for changes to the sanitary sewer system related to the pool project, which also include related improvements to the adjacent Marshfield Utilities property.

City Engineer Tom Turchi said the improvements would combine two older systems into one new one.

Turchi stated:

The Hefko Pool replacement process began in 2016, when a pool study committee came up with a design and cost estimates for a replacement. In 2017, the Council chose to stay with the current Hefko Pool site. Earlier this month, aldermen voted to not open Hefko Pool at all this summer, and instead bump up the construction timeline for a new aquatic center. By doing so, the city hopes to capitalize on what has become a very competitive construction industry that is looking for projects.

The city’s Capital Improvement Plan for 2020 includes funding for a replacement for the pool. That will be paired with $3 million in private funds to cover the costs of the new aquatic center, which will now tentatively open in the summer of 2021.