Aquatics Center plans to move quickly after parking approved

Published Date: Aug 29, 2023
Published in: Chronotype

Now that the parking lot variance has once again been approved by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, plans for the new Rice Lake Aquatics and Recreation Center will be moving quickly.

Bids for the project came in within budget in March and groundbreaking was previously set to begin earlier this summer before being delayed, said Pat Blackaller, vice president of the Rice Lake Aquatics and Recreation Center board.

“We were going to start digging in mid-to-late June but we were delayed by the variance piece,” Blackaller said. “We were ready to go, so now we’re back at it.”

Site work will begin within the next week, he said, and the board will be meeting to plan a groundbreaking.

“We’re going to do some initial work and then probably in a week, week and half, we can have the significant work when they start digging the hole for the foundation,” Blackaller said.

Funds to complete the first phase of the project have been raised, Blackaller said, but the Rice Lake Aquatics and Recreation Center is still fundraising for the entire project to complete the second phase of the project.

Phase I of the Aquatics Center has a timeline of completion next fall, while Phase II, demolition of the current pool and construction of the Boys and Girls Club clubhouse and public gyms and walking track, should be completed by the fall of 2025.