Shelby unveils the newly renovated aquatics center

Rebecca Sitzes, The Shelby Star
·2 min read
The Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.
The Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.

The weather may not cooperate with the opening of Shelby City Park’s newly renovated pool, but there's a whole summer to follow.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the newly renovated facility this week, and it is expected to be open Memorial Day.

A crowd of city staff, leaders, councilmembers and Friends of the Shelby City Park gathered Monday to witness the ribbon cutting.

Parks & Recreation Director Charlie Holtzclaw speaks at the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.
Parks & Recreation Director Charlie Holtzclaw speaks at the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.

Mayor Stan Anthony said the aquatic center is something the community has taken pride in for many years.

“The city of Shelby has a long history of providing first class parks and recreation,” he said. “This renovation we are dedicating today is continuing that tradition.”

City Manager Rick Howell said the project was a result of a team effort and a City Council that believes in investing in the community.

Work on the project, which was completed by Sossaman Construction, began last fall and cost a total of $2.37 million.

Renovations include more concrete decking, new roof, restroom fixtures, filtration control panels, flooring and counters, coping stones and tiles in the pools and plumbing and electrical upgrades.

There are new one- and three-meter diving towers, although delays mean they may not be available by Memorial Day weekend.

Charlie Holtzclaw, Shelby parks and recreation director, said people will notice the renovations from the moment they walk through the freshly painted, sky-blue entryway.

New paint inside the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.
New paint inside the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.

Not only does it look new and improved, but it was a cost-saving measure as well.

Holtzclaw said the pool was losing a million gallons of water a month.

According to the city, the Shelby Aquatics Center first opened in June of 1996 and is one of the premier swimming facilities in the south with its 10-lanes and Olympic sized pool.

“It won’t be long before hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of people will be using this pool for many years to come,” Holtzclaw said.

The center is located at 850 W. Sumter St.

To see admission cost and schedule, got to cityofshelby.com.

Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com.

The ribbon is cut at the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.
The ribbon is cut at the Shelby Aquatics Center on West Sumter Street during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday morning, May 22, 2023.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby unveils the newly renovated aquatics center