The Lakewood City Planning Commission has passed on to the Lakewood City Council its recommendations for improvements to Surfside Pool Park, following a public hearing on February 21. The plan calls for replacing the aging outdoor pool, closed since 2004, with a splash park and covered facilities for picnics.

The Planning Commission approved the Master Plan by a vote of 7-0 with the recommendation that the city take a close look at a reasonable fee structure for the park and also look at the facilities to make certain the needs of the community are met.

The Master Plan calls for redeveloping the 1.1 acres site into a spray park with picnicking amenities. Two splash pads would be built, each with various play features to attract all ages. The park would be gated for a fee entry on 9th Avenue, and would be designed for private party rentals. There would also be small picnic and shade shelters and a large sunning area. A group picnic shelter would be available on a reservation basis.

Improvements would be made to the curb, gutter, and sidewalk along the 9th Avenue Frontage, and the plan calls for landscaping of the parking lots, and development of safe accessible public facilities for the surrounding neighborhood.

Surfside Park is located in Northeast Lakewood in the Two Creeks Neighborhood. It is a half block west of Sheridan Boulevard and a half mile East of Molholm Elementary School. The site has served the community as an outdoor pool since the early 1960's when it was operated as a private swim club. The City took over operation of the pool in 1972 and purchased the site in 1977.

The concrete pool was 5-lanes, 25 yards long with a depth of 3 to 12 feet. The park also contained a small, shallow wading pool, outdoor changing facilities and office structure, a pump house, picnic shelter, and a 31-space asphalt parking lot.

The pool was closed at the end of the 2004 season as a result of leaking supply pipes, damaged pool decking and low attendance. Budget considerations forced the closing.

After staff evaluation of the expense of repairing the pool, it was determined that the site needed a new use. Finding a best use for the small site was a challenge. The Department of Community Resources embarked on an open planning process to develop a new master plan for the Park. From the beginning, the City has wanted to involve the surrounding community in the redevelopment planning. The City hired Design Concepts to assist in the planning process. The process was funded by a Community Development Block Grant.

The City met with the Two Creeks Neighborhood Association before holding public open houses. The first open house, held at Molholm Elementary School, was to solicit concerns and ideas for the site.

In addition to the general public open houses, the City met with students at Molholm Elementary to receive their comments and ideas. After the comments were received several plan alternatives were developed. These were shown to the staff committee. At this point it was decided that only the preferred alternative would be presented for public comment.

The Plan was presented at the Two Creeks Neighborhood annual meeting in October 2006 for review and input. The plan was well received and participants helped select material and site themes for the final plan, which was presented to the Planning Commission.

The plan will now be presented to the City Council for approval. After these approvals and funding is secured, final construction plans will be developed.