Kimbro Pool reopening makes big splash

Renovations include indoor splash park, children’s pool

By Somer Breeze-Hanson/Northwest Guardian

The Zambrana family has been on a Kimbro Pool grand opening watch.

The popular family pool in McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center on JBLM closed its doors Oct. 31, 2011 for a multi-million dollar renovation.

When the pool re-opened Monday the Zambrana family was among the first people to test the waters. After lap swim ended at 1 p.m., the new indoor splash park and children’s pool opened for recreational swim. Army spouse Heather Zambrana and her husband watched as their three children, ages 3, 10 and 11, slid down the two water slides and ran under the new water features.

“We’re excited to introduce a new amenity to the community and that’s an indoor kiddie pool with water features,” Chief of Community Recreation Division Rick Randall said. “It’s something we’ve never had in this community before.”

The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the pool is today at 1 p.m.

The yearlong complete overhaul turned the once oversized lap pool into a standard-sized 25-yard lap swim pool with a children’s pool. It was the pool’s first complete renovation since it was built in 1947.

From the pool floor to the ceiling to the heating and ventilation systems, everything was upgraded. The pools feature refurbished water slides and a flush deck gutter system and mosaic deck tiles decorated with animals. The children’s pool is zero-depth entry and goes to 30 inches deep. The indoor splash park is open just in time for the upcoming winter break.

Jessica Rockhill, JBLM’s new director of Aquatics, arrived at JBLM from Fort Bragg, N.C., in mid-October.

“Coming in at the end of the project, it’s amazing how beautiful this facility has turned out,” Rockhill said. “It’s definitely one of the nicest renovations I’ve seen.”

Kimbro pool manager Jenelee Horton said the renovation was overdue.

“I remember coming here when I was younger and then when I got employed here it still looked the same,” Horton said. “I think it’s a much needed change and it looks great. It’s going to work well for this installation.”

Still to be added are boxed storage cubbies on the pool deck for patrons’ towels.

Kimbro Pool is open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday for fitness training and lap swim. Recreation swim is Monday to Friday 1 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and weekends noon to 6 p.m.