Construction for Ames’ new indoor aquatic center will be complete this winter, though an opening date is still unknown.
The City of Ames broke ground on the $32 million Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center in April. It will be located at 115 N. Elm Ave., near the intersection of Lincoln Way and Grand Avenue.
The 38,900-square-foot facility will include a water slide, three pool areas and a lazy river. It will offer exercise classes, water walking, lap swimming, open recreation, year-round swimming lessons and additional exercise opportunities.
The natatorium work and the remaining areas have separate substantial completion dates, though both are expected this winter.
When will construction on the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center be done?
Construction will be complete on the non-natatorium areas — the lobby, locker rooms, multipurpose space and party rooms — on Jan. 23.
Construction on the natatorium area — pool basins, slides, mechanical rooms and aquatic storage — is estimated to wrap up mid to late February.
No opening date has been set, and the facility may not open until April, Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham said.
“Everything hinges on the substantial completion dates,” Abraham said. “We will need one-and-a-half to two months to get equipment and materials in and train staff on the facility.”
What will the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center’s hours be?
City staff is still working on the aquatic center’s hours, which will be shared with the Ames City Council at its Jan. 13 meeting, Abraham said.
The aquatic center will mainly be open from Labor Day to Memorial Day each year with about a $1.1 million operating cost, and expected revenues will be about $856,000, as reported to the city council in December 2024.
What will the Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center’s fees be?
The aquatic center fees were approved by the Ames City Council in December 2024.
Daily admission fees will be $6 for youth (ages 3-15), $7 for adults (ages 16 and over) and $6.50 for Iowa State University students and seniors (ages 60 and over).
Punch passes will cost $66 for youth, $77 for adults and $71.50 for ISU students and seniors. Season passes will cost $245 for youth, $355 for adults, $300 for ISU students and seniors and $745 for households.
Fees for daily admission and punch passes for non-residents increase by $1 and $11, respectively, with the exception of ISU students. Non-resident season passes will be $305 for youth, $435 for adults, $375 for seniors and $900 for households.
City staff’s goal is to keep those fees the same, Abraham said. However, since Ames is in the middle of developing the 2026-27 budget, nothing is final.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will approve fees and charges for all programs and activities at its Jan. 15 meeting.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames’ new indoor aquatic center is nearly complete. When will it open?
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
