Roof work planned at indoor aquatic center; pooch plunge planned

At Outdoor Aquatic Center, traditional Pooch Plunge set for Tuesday

Roofs and woofs. News about both soon will impact the city’s indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Parks and Recreation leaders on Wednesday announced that portions of the Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, will be closed for up to 30 days beginning later this month. The closures are part of a major roofing project at the facility.

Beginning Sept. 21, the competition pool at the indoor aquatic center will be closed for up to 15 days while crews repair the roof over that portion of the pool. The leisure pool will remain open during that time period, and several pool-related classes will move from the competition pool to the leisure pool.

The Karl Knox Natatorium, 1901 La., also will be open for lap swimmers displaced by the work. The natatorium will have special lap swimming times from 5:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Normally, the city shuts down the Indoor Aquatic Center for maintenance during a two-week period while the Outdoor Aquatic Center is still open. But the roof project wasn’t able to be completed by contractors during that time period, said Jimmy Gibbs, the city’s aquatic manager.

The work on the roof is being done under warranty by the contractor, Gibbs said. The city was having problems with moisture from inside the building causing the roof to bubble. Part of the work involves painting the ceiling of the facility, which is why portions of the building will be closed to the public.

After work above the competition pool is complete, the indoor leisure pool will be closed for about 10 days while work there is done.

The work will come shortly after the city closes the Outdoor Aquatic Center, 727 Ky., for the season. The last day for swimming will be Monday.

But as has become tradition, the city will host a Pooch Plunge from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The seventh annual event allows area residents to take their dogs to the pool for a swim.

The fee for the event is $5 per dog. All dogs must have proof of current shots, and must remain under their owner’s control at all times. Registration for the event will be available at the door, but owners may also pre-register online at www.lprd.org.