photo by: Journal-World File

Lawrence's Outdoor Aquatic Center at 727 Kentucky St.

Residents are asking for more shade options and water benches as part of the renovation to the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center, according to the results of a recent survey and other public feedback efforts.

The City of Lawrence hosted two feedback sessions last week at the Indoor Aquatic Center, located at 4706 Overland Drive, as well as a public survey. In them, it asked what kind of play amenities could be added to the outdoor pool at 727 Kentucky St. and what the orientation and shape of the separate shallow pool should be.

According to a city news release on Wednesday, 351 people provided survey responses and 50 people came to the in-person sessions. Respondents were asked to rank a list of eight possible amenities on a scale of one through eight, from most desired to least desired. The most popular choices were water benches and toddler benches with shade. The data indicated that 100 people selected water benches as their top choice, while toddler benches were the second-highest with 68.

Additionally, 70% of respondents preferred a design of the shallow pool that featured a slight curve compared to the other, straighter option. The two options for the shallow pool are both 5,000 square feet.

photo by: City of Lawrence

One design concept for the shallow pool in the city’s renovation of the Outdoor Aquatic Center. This was the most popular option with 70% of the survey respondents selecting this choice over a flatter design.

Other topics the city said it had been hearing about from residents included shade and heat management, ensuring the amenities were safe and improving accessibility.

As the Journal-World has reported, the pool renovation project has significantly changed since discussions began last summer.

In August, city commissioners approved a renovation concept that would have added features like a lazy river and a 2,300-square-foot splash pad, but which proposed reducing the total pool space at the center. This reduction in pool space led to public concern about the design, prompting 1,700 people to sign a petition to reconsider it, as the Journal-World reported.

Then, in October, the commission instead voiced support for a plan that would keep the current configuration of the pool. In November, the commissioners approved the current renovation concept, and the construction cost is estimated to be just over $4.7 million — cheaper than the $6.1 million initial plan that was being discussed in August.

The city said there would still be more community engagement opportunities in the coming months involving a new accessibility ramp for the main pool, potentially adding a new water slide and renovating the center’s building and existing shade structure.