The Big Pool

How the largest municipal pool in the nation kept its identity amid much-needed renovations

By Terry Berkbuegler and Hank Moyers

For nearly 100 years, Garden City, Kan., was home to a pool so big you could water-ski across it. The hand-dug pool was so expansive that, for years, the local zoo’s elephants would lumber across the street after the pool closed for the season to take a dip.

Jason Ryman

As the largest, free municipal pool in the nation at nearly two acres, the pool has also been a pool for the people. Stories from young and old about making the trek to Garden City every year to visit “The Big Pool” are common throughout the region. People remember watching the wind sail and bathtub races or marveling at the spectacle of giant pachyderms.

In other words, this was a pool with history. 

Executing a much-needed renovation after all those years was at once a financial, logistical, and emotional feat, but the results do the legacy of this community asset proud. The pool is now home to some of the most exciting first-in-the-nation installations of municipal aquatic features, and upon opening last year, was the recipient of the Leading Edge award from the World Waterpark Association (WWA)—the only municipal pool in the world to receive a WWA award in 2021.

Importantly, it also remains accessible to the residents of Garden City, where the average median income is $52,000 a year--$4,500 less than Kansas’ average and $9,000 less than the national average.

With more than 300,000 municipal pools across the U.S.—many built 50 to 75 years ago—The Big Pool offers valuable lessons in the power of community engagement and investment in public amenities to promote economic development and equity.

Community Engagement

The first step to making this transformation a reality was getting community buy-in. The Big Pool had become such a valued piece of the community fabric that changing it in any way would undoubtedly send outsized ripples—either positive or negative—throughout the region. 

At the same time, the pool was in dire need of revitalization. Cracks in the concrete shell and pipes, antiquated pump and filtering systems, and aging play equipment necessitated ongoing repairs and presented constant operational challenges. The pool was hemorrhaging upwards of 200,000 gallons of water a day and costing approximately $885,000 a year to operate—with annual repair costs increasing substantially. In addition, the original bath house, constructed during the 1930s as a WPA project, no longer met state or local codes based on bather capacities.

Taking cues from the community’s interest in developing the original pool, a multi-disciplinary team, led by the landscape architecture firm Confluence, WTI Aquatics, BRS Architecture, and Ballard King Associates, worked closely with the city to facilitate a series of community meetings and surveys to engage community members regarding the future of aquatic recreation in Garden City. 

Gathering responses across all age groups, from 3rd graders to aging adults, was crucial to informing not only the redesign of the pool, but also its rebranding. To keep the community informed, a Facebook page was created to provide ongoing updates, receive additional input, and encourage all residents to have a voice in the process. Community input revealed a desire for a significant renovation of the pool, along with more exciting, active aquatic features.

Public Investment And Design

Using this input, concepts were developed outlining different redevelopment approaches and costs. Additional business models and proformas were developed for the City Commission in order to understand price points and operational models for the various options. 

The costs associated ranged from $7.7 million for a base concept to almost $23 million for an exact replacement. Proforma numbers pertaining to operations and maintenance, as well as daily entrance-fee scenarios, were also developed for each option to allow the commission to make an informed decision on a final design recommendation.

Understanding how the Big Pool drew attendance from both local residents and the greater regional population, city officials recognized the importance of creating a new destination that could live up to the legacy of the world’s largest municipal pool. Members came to view the renovation as a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to position the facility as both an economic driver and community asset for generations to come.

Confluence

With a vision for a resort-quality experience that was accessible to all, the selected design prioritized multi-generational recreation and fitness programming. The design team worked hard to incorporate all the features desired by the public into a program that would also be self-sustaining. 

The new design offers first-in-the-nation, municipal aquatic features such as the SlipStream, a standing water slide, and FlyTyme, a 30-foot water slide that launches riders into the air before splashing them into the deep end of the pool. Designed for all ages and uses, there is also a tube slide, lazy river, adult lounge pool, kids’ splash pad, diving area, and an 8-lane, 50-meter lap pool used for exercise and competitions. 

Importantly, both the city and the design team recognized that, for many low-income families in the area, the pool was a de-facto summer camp. Often, children would spend most days of their summer at the pool, which lacked meaningful shade. To provide a safer, more comfortable experience, multiple shade solutions were also incorporated throughout the new design. 

Paying homage to the Big Pool, thoughtful storytelling was integrated throughout the design, showcasing the history of the pool in a way that went far beyond a commemorative plaque. Visitors can learn about the origins of the Big Pool and its evolution to the present day, appreciating what it has meant to this community. The original bath house was retained and renovated to include men’s and women’s restrooms, four family restrooms, and additional storage; a new building was added to house admissions, guards, and concessions.

Supporting Equity And Driving Economic Activity

Throughout the renovation process, the design team paid special attention to the role of the pool—and water—in. drawing people to a place while building a sense of community. Similar to a public park, there are all walks of life using a municipal pool. Generations of people come together, allowing everyone an opportunity to benefit from the experience. Ultimately, the municipal pool is a tool for enhancing community quality of life. 

With that in mind, Garden City was committed to ensuring the pool at Garden Rapids remained accessible to everyone. While originally free, the pool began charging $3 per visit several years ago to help offset some of the maintenance and operations fees. City officials wanted to do everything within their power to maintain this low cost of entry so everyone in the community could enjoy the new amenity. As an alternative to raising admission prices, additional programming, including private events, cabana rentals, adult nights, movie nights, and a new concession stand, was developed to bring in new revenue to help cover the costs.

In the first year of operation, the new financial model proved to be an instant success. Admissions increased by 208 percent, leading to a 336-percent increase in gate revenue. Concession revenue rose by 271 percent. The more efficient water system decreased chemical costs by 70 percent and reduced water usage by 78 percent. Applied over time, these numbers will allow the park to pay for the cost of the renovation and eventually become a productive city asset.

The Big Pool shows how ingenuity, partnership, and creative collaboration can transform an outdated community asset and drive new economic growth. As other communities realize the difference a creative process like this can make, there will hopefully be many more transformations across the country for new generations to develop their own “Big Pool” memories.  

Terry Berkbuegler, PLA, LEED AP, ASLA, Senior Principal/Senior Vice President/Shareholder at Confluence, joined the firm in 2003. His experience includes numerous urban design and streetscapes, senior communities, transportation enhancement, and higher-education projects. Hard work, the pursuit of design excellence, and his tireless commitment to client satisfaction are at the core of his approach to all projects. 

Hank Moyers, PLA, ASLA, is an Associate/Shareholder at Confluence. Through his experiences over the past 16 years, Moyers has developed a strong passion for the land and its inherent value provided through historical, cultural, and ecological traditions. His design beliefs have allowed him to create landscapes that balance the sustainable needs of the sites with the desires of the client, resulting in an imaginative and responsive design. He believes landscape architects have a responsibility to create usable and safe spaces, but also to challenge the limits of people’s imagination for a site or space.