Kingsport BMA approves $1.5M aquatic center upgrades

KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen greenlit a contract for more than $1.5 million in renovations at the Kingsport Aquatic Center during Tuesday's meeting. Specifically, the BMA approved a resolution awarding the $1,504,350 bid to Southern Watershapes Inc. for the swimming pool and related renovations. The company constructs projects across the Southeast and has offices in Nashville and Atlanta. The proposed renovation project will address the competition pool, warm pool, play pool, leisure pool and lazy river. Work is anticipated to include replacing pool tiles, depth markers, drain covers, chlorinators, hydrostatic valves and other related components, along with replastering the pools. "This is work that typically occurs with most facilities of this magnitude, again, every seven to 12 years," Kingsport City Manager Chris McCartt said during the meeting. "Very fortunate to get a very solid bid to allow us to get multiple alternates onto this." According to the agenda action form for the related resolution, the project will also include gel recoating of the indoor water slide and refurbishment of the outdoor play feature in the leisure pool. "These improvements are necessary to extend the useful life of the facility, protect the City's investment, and continue offering a high-quality aquatic facility for residents, visitors, and competitive users," the form states. Work is scheduled to begin after Sept. 7 (Labor Day). Information provided in the agenda packet states the indoor portion of the project is expected to be completed by Jan. 8, 2027; the outdoor portion is expected to be completed by Feb. 19, 2027. The Outdoor Water Park is planned to open Saturday, the city previously announced. "We will begin work sometime after Labor Day." McCartt said. "We won't shut the pool down during the middle of summer, especially on a day like today, when I'm sure a lot of people like to have been in it." Background The Kingsport Aquatic Center opened on May 25, 2013. With the pool plaster now approaching 13 years old, agenda documents state the existing plaster is "at the end of its expected service life." In 2024, the facility saw regularly scheduled maintenance — which included acid washing, recaulking, replacement of pool lights and other related work. Multiple hollow areas were identified in the plaster at the time. This renovation project cost roughly $500,000, based on previous reporting by the Times News. The facility saw construction work for its first major expansion start in 2019, with the addition of an outdoor pool, office suite and a shaded pavilion with restrooms adjacent to the existing outdoor entrance. After bids for the latest project opened on May 12, two competitive bids were received. According to the Kingsport Aquatic Center website, the competition pool is the region's only indoor Olympic-size, eight lane, 50 meter, multipurpose pool. The 50-meter long course is open mid-April through mid-August, while the 25-yard short course is available mid-August through mid-April. The warm pool is a four-lane, 25-yard, zero-entry pool for instruction and recreation. Also inside, the recreational pool is equipped with a water slide and splash pad. The facility has stadium seating for up to 400 people, diving platforms, scoreboard and timing system. Outdoors, the Aquatic Center has two waterslides, the 900-foot long Eastman Credit Union Lazy River, a climbing structure/play area with water cannons, lily pad crossing and an outdoor lap pool. Concessions, changing rooms and lockers are available in the inside and outside parts of the facility. For more information about the Kingsport Aquatic Center, visit https://www.swimkingsport.com/.