The Bismarck Parks and Recreation Board has settled on a concept they believe will more than adequately replace the former Elks Pool and has asked the district staff to come up with the specifics.

The board held a special meeting at noon Tuesday to review a summary of the Aquatics Task Force work and consider a recommendation coming from the group. Board members Shannon Bakke and Mark Zimmerman were members of task force, which included nine citizens and members of the district staff. Bakke and Zimmerman agree that the concepts coming out of the task force meet the needs of the community and are plans the board can support.

Board chairman Dan Hovland, though not a member of the task force, said he was familiar with what had transpired over the five months the task force had been meeting.

"In the beginning, a splash park was seriously being considered, but there was more community support for including a pool, maybe not the conventional pool we've come to know, but a swimming pool nonetheless," Hovland said.

The board was provided two concepts, one called Final Option One and the other the Option of All Options. Through its discussions, the task force had looked at a variety of activities including a splash park area, water slides, a lazy river, and lap lanes.

Depth of the water, the limited area of development and budget constraints were important factors in coming up with a concept, Neu told the board.

"In Final Option One and the Option of All Options, we looked at various depths," Neu said. "The one thing that came out of the discussions is that a strong combination of activities is important. It's not just a splash facility, but a park and a pool, also."

The old Elks Pool was 100 feet by 100 feet, ranging in depth from 3.5 feet to 12 feet. Nearly two-thirds of the pool was 6 feet or deeper. But most of the use was in the 5 foot and under area and wading pool, according to Neu. "Most of our clientele was age 10 and younger," he said.

For this reason, the new facility needs to provide multiple-use areas of play and entertainment, Neu said. "The old pool didn't offer that much of an attraction in the water world. You also have to consider we had a small area to work with, not even a city block, about half that."

For diving, the old pool had a depth of 12 feet. Today's standards, Neu said, call for 10 to 12 feet for a 1-meter board and 14 feet for a 3-meter board. "Expensive to put in," he said. Also, the old pool could handle about 250 people, while the concept facilities were designed for 400 people.

Depth is also an important consideration for providing swimming lessons. With a maximum depth of 5 feet, the concept pool will meet the needs of the younger, entry level swimmers, Neu said. For more advanced courses, Hillside and Wachter pools will be available.

The "lazy river" feature was taken out because of space issues. The length would be the equivalent of home back to midway between second and third base on a baseball field, Neu said.

The Option of All Options got most of the attention from the board and received a general consensus as the preferred alternative. Neu said this option is cleaner looking, better provides for lessons and lap swimming and best meets the needs for a combination facility with provisions for a pool facility, zero depth access, splash area, water slides, bathrooms, shower rooms, shelters and playground.

"It looks very favorable for staffing and heating needs. With this type of facility, we could extend the season beyond Labor Day," Neu said. "The old pool, we needed 16 people per shift, and they all had to be certified lifeguards. The concept facility will need about eight people per shift and only half will need to be certified. In the pool area we will have certified lifeguards, but in the splash areas we just need attendants or supervisors."

Bakke made the motion to move forward with both concepts, asking district staff to come up with a final development concept including specifics such as equipment and building needs. Zimmerman seconded the motion, which was approved.

Neu said a final plan should be ready by the regular March 18 meeting. The staff will be working with a budget of about $1.8 million. Given the go-ahead, the district would likely take the project to bid in May with construction in 2005 and opening in 2006.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)