12-02-2025
$20 million O'Fallon park project on budget, but will new pool be ready for summer?
The ongoing work on the nearly $20 million Community Park upgrades project is currently on time and on budget, according to Andrew Dallner, director of the O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Department.
'We are right on track, and tracking well on the budget,' Dallner said as he updated the projects' status to the council's parks and environment committee Feb. 10.
The O'Fallon Community Park, located at 401 E. Fifth St., along U.S. 50, began its metamorphosis last summer. Plans are moving forward for a Memorial Day 2025 grand opening, barring any delays.
Phase 1 includes a Parks and Rec building, locker rooms, pumphouse, pool, slide, splash pad, and performing arts stage. Phase 2 includes a complete overhaul of the Katy Cavins Center, new parking lot, and event space.
Building A of the new pool complex, which includes an office, party room, and concessions, is expected to be ready for the staff to move in the week of Feb. 24. The utilities will be shut off at the Cavins Center on March 7, and demolition of that building is expected to take place March 10.
Dallner said he is planning on a walk-through with the architects next week and see what loose ends need to be tied up.
Groundbreaking on the $19.9 million enhancement project happened on April 30, 2024. 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 department.
Alderman Eric Van Hook inquired about the initial discovery of asbestos in the Cavins Center, and Dallner explained that mitigation took place three weeks ago.
'We are good to go (for the demolition),' he said.
Dallner explained the new gym is being painted, sidewalks are now completed leading up to the building, and the lap lane has been installed at the pool.
The city pool is being totally rebuilt and enlarged. It had been a fixture in the park since 1959, when the town's population was about 4,000; today it is over 30,000.
'We were able to do some good work in February and make up ground on the pool. We'll need to see if we will continue to be on time, or will the opening eke into early June,' Dallner said.
The Parks Master Plan included replacing the swimming pool, adding space for community gatherings, and more hiking and biking trails.
The Community Park Trail has been completed. The paved trail is .8 miles and winds around the park. It's a 10-feet-wide multi-use path.
Dallner said the enhancements are to meet the needs of residents and improve their 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 pool also had physical issues that needed to be repaired. In addition, the two sets of exit stairs were not ADA compliant and needed to be accessible with a ramp or handrails to be easily manageable for all pool users. Upgrades to restrooms were also needed, as were 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 free form 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.
New lighted walking paths will wind through the park, providing more safety for walkers.
The community center was limited size-wise for events of more than 100-plus people, and among the needs were the replacement of the accessibility ramp and the installation of a fire sprinkler system.
The parks department evaluated conditions to determine short and long-term maintenance and identify concerns regarding life-safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, building code related items, and other potential building operation items.
Dallner said the amount of work needed for repairs was cost-prohibitive, and it was wiser to build a new one rather than fix the current one.
Considering that a new building was estimated to cost around $5 million, they do not believe it would be cost effective to spend so much money on the 97-year-old Cavins Center.
During the summer of 2023, Quadrant Design did a study and Holland Construction did a cost estimate about bringing the facility up to modern day standards:
Renovations and flooding: $2,567,919-$2,838,226.
Elevator: Additional $926,636-$1,024,177.
Cost Opinion Proposal Total $3,494,555-$3,862,403.
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 facility square footage would be equal to the Cavins Center so the department could maintain their current rental revenue for birthday parties, trivia nights, etc.
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.
