A small Moore County town is about to become home to a new aquatic center.
This month, officials with the City of Cactus announced plans to build a $3.2 million aquatic center to replace the city’s municipal pool. In addition to the swimming pool, the new location is set to have a rock climbing wall and a basketball goal, in addition to other amenities.
According to a report from KFDA-TV in Amarillo, Cactus plans to pay for the project using a $500,000 grant from Parks and Wildlife, with budget reserves earmarked to fund the rest of the project’s costs. The project looks to be a large one for the community of 3,197 people, with the project’s cost running around $1,000 per resident.
Cactus’ current pool, which was first opened in the 1980s, will be demolished as part of the new project, officials said. The site of the current pool is expected to be converted into sand volleyball courts.
City manager Aldo Gallegos told KFDA-TV that he sees the aquatic center project not only as a local infrastructure project but also an attraction for the region.
“It’s kind of a two-piece expectation,” Gallegos said. “The first is to keep the kids that leave during the summer to go to the other pools in the area, because there’s just not the amenities they want, like the splash pad. The other is to bring other people in. There’s going to be a pretty big-sized pool, so hopefully we’re going to bring in a lot more people.”
Construction on the project is expected to begin next year.
