The Auburn School District Pool, home to boys and girls high school swimming and water polo teams and city recreational programs, will close through the bulk of the summer for renovation.

The pool, which is expected to reopen in time for the girls high school swim season on Aug. 28, will receive upgrades, including a new pool liner, new locker rooms, new entrances, plumbing improvements, a new air exchange system, new storage areas, new lighting and improvements to the movable bulkhead, according to Auburn High School Athletic Director Bob Jones.

The pool was built in 1970, funded by Forward Thrust, a $118 million King County bond issue that at the time was the largest parks and recreation bond ever in the country.

In 2002, the school district set the wheels in motion to acquire the pool, which was slated to be shut down after more than 30 years of King County control.

Although acquired at no cost from the county, the pool was in dire need of improvements. In 2009, the school district replaced the pool’s aging boiler.

“They (King County) didn’t do a lot with the pools,” Jones said. “This is something that has needed to be done for a long time.”

In 2009, Auburn residents passed Proposition 1, a $46.4 million capital improvements levy, with a 54-percent majority.

“This is all a part of a levy passed (in 2009) and basically a remodel of the old Forward Thrust pool,” Jones said. “The biggest and coolest thing is that we’ll have a new pool liner.”

Jones added that the pool’s locker rooms also will be renovated, with new showers and lockers planned.

The pool will receive improvements meant to lower energy usage and help reduce the operating cost.

“A lot of what is being done is for energy efficiency,” Jones said. “We’re changing the entryways. Basically, it will be brand new entrances with energy efficient windows.”

The pool’s plumbing will receive a much needed upgrade as well. The old system was buried under the pool’s foundation, which made it difficult, if not impossible, to repair, Jones said.

“The showers in the women’s locker rooms had to be on timers to deal with a leak that couldn’t be fixed,” Jones said.

Inside the actual pool area, the floors will be redone as will the air handling system, making for a more pleasant environment and better air flow.

The pool’s lighting also will be revamped to make it brighter and more energy efficient.

“That alone will make the pool a nicer place to be,” Jones said.

The school district budgets approximately $190,000 annually to maintain the pool. The budget includes money for utilities, custodial, supplies and maintenance and repairs. The improvements to several of the pool’s mechanical systems are expected to lower maintenance and utility costs.

The pool’s office also will be renovated and the movable bulkhead, which allows for various configurations including setting up the dive tank, will be improved.

“It’s been pulled out and is at a shop where they’re refurbishing it,” Jones said.

“You’d normally have to have 10 swimmers in there to move it. And if it was pushed it in an awkward manner, it would knock out tiles. Now, you’ll just inflate an air pocket, and two people can float it and put it in place.”

In addition, a storage area will be added to the south side of the building.

“The toughest challenge is getting it done for the first day of practice for the high schools,” Jones continued. “The biggest thing was not to impact the school programs.

Contractors Jones and Roberts from Olympia turned in the low bid on the project – $2,369,500 for both the pool and Auburn Memorial Stadium improvements – and started working on the project May 9. Jones said the crews have been working double-shifts to ensure the pool is ready for the first day of fall high school sports.

In addition to the pool improvements, the levy will fund work at the stadium, including remodels of the concession stands, a new scoreboard for the north side of the field and a new sound system.

Last summer the field turf was replaced.

Jones said the work won’t hamper use of the field, just restrict access to the home stands for the summer.