Thaman said Kettering has worked out agreements to allow swim teams that currently use the pool to move their practices and competitions to Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton and Trotwood-Madison High School. But there is no reciprocal agreement at another pool for individual rec center members.
Some surrounding pools, such as the South YMCA in Kettering and Five Seasons in Sugarcreek Twp. require memberships, while others including the Washington Twp. Rec Center and Dayton’s Lohrey Center, have both drop-in and membership options.
The Kettering pool may be the first in the state with a retractable roof, according to the state swim coaches association. It will prevent weather-related program cancellations in summer and save on energy costs compared to the bubble.
Thaman said the roof, which is being built by Structures Unlimited, Inc., will be translucent, allowing exterior light into the facility.
A much larger retractable roof built by Structures Unlimited for Calvert County, Md., opens or closes in just 3 to 4 minutes, according to facility staff.
The roof project, which also includes a significant expansion of the concrete pool deck, will cost $890,000.
City Council agreed to fund the project from the city’s general fund, which has a $35 million balance.
Thaman said when the roof and deck are upgraded, the pool will have significantly better lighting and acoustics, more space to host programs, and better handicap accessibility, with the revolving doors removed.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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