WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita City Council members are looking to enhance pools and splash pads with the hope of deterring vandals.
City Councilmembers will vote on Feb. 6 to spend nearly $1.7 million to, among other things, improve pool houses.
The city council agenda says the Aquatics Master Plan approved by the City Council on June 4, 2019, anticipated funding of $25,150,000 for the rehab of all six pools and six splash pads owned by the City of Wichita. Those improvements were completed in 2021.
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The document says the pool houses were largely untouched by the Aquatics Master Plan and only routinely maintained to remain safe and operational. Many large-scale projects have been deferred and are now in need of attention.
The Wichita Police Department assisted Wichita Park and Recreation in 2022 by completing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessments for the pools and found the condition of the pool facilities being subpar indicates to the public the City of Wichita does not care about the property, which encourages graffiti and vandalism.