The City of Guthrie Center, along with the Guthrie Center Parks Board, had been planning for improvements to Mitchell Park as part of the Mitchell Park Master Plan completed by MSA in 2017. One of the highest priority items identified through the master planning effort was desired improvements to the park’s pool house and public restroom facilities.
The pool house itself was over 50 years old and in need of significant repairs and renovation. In addition, the park as a whole lacked functioning restrooms, with portable toilets available only seasonally. This limited the length of time park goers could comfortably spend enjoying the park and pool facilities and posed a concern to the safety and cleanliness of the park and pool property.
After closer review, the Parks Board, MSA and Guthrie Center City Council ultimately concluded that the most cost-effective path forward to address all the park’s needs would be to construct a new accessible facility with public restrooms, pool-side changing rooms/restrooms and concessions that could serve either pool patrons or the public. MSA solicited input and design opinions from a variety of community leaders and project stakeholders including council members, city employees, park board members, current and past aquatic center managers and swim team leaders. Leveraging their ideas and incorporating the opinions and wish-list items from this group, MSA architects and pool house design team completed a final proposed design for the new facility, which was approved by the city council in August, 2019.
Demolition of the prior structure and construction of the new 2,500-square-foot facility began in late summer, 2020. The completed new facility includes public restrooms, shower facilities, single point of admissions, concessions space and adjoining ADA-compliant sidewalks, access routes and parking. The layout improves both functionality and aesthetic, allowing for both public park and private pool access, improved security, and dedicated space for mechanical and electrical systems. MSA provided architectural design for the project as well as site/civil, structural, plumbing, electrical and HVAC engineering.
The community of Guthrie Center celebrated the grand opening of the new pool house facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours on June 19, 2021.