After being closed for three years, Malvern Hills Park’s swimming pool is being brought back to life.
At the Oct. 27 Asheville City Council meeting, council members approved a contract amendment, allowing the project to move out of the design phase and into construction. The City Council said the construction of the new pool will begin before the end of the year and is scheduled to be completed in time to open for the summer season of 2028.
At the meeting, a resolution was approved, authorizing the city manager to enter into a construction contract amendment to the contract with Harper General Contractors, Inc., a South Carolina Corporation authorized to do business in North Carolina, in the amount of $4.4 million for the project.
The resolution also allows the city manager to execute any change orders that may arise during the project up to the contingency amount of $560,000.
828NEWSNOW PAST COVERAGE: ASHEVILLE’S MALVERN HILLS MOVES CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION
“Malvern Hills Park Pool is a beloved amenity that has served generations of Asheville residents,” said D. Tyrell McGirt, Asheville Parks & Recreation Director, at the meeting. “Reaching the construction phase brings us one step closer to bringing public swimming back to West Asheville.”
The project is funded through the voter-approved 2024 Parks and Recreation General Obligation Bond. The new design will deliver a modern, safe, and accessible aquatic center while maintaining the historic look and feel of the pool house for the whole community.
“We are deeply grateful to our community whose dedication and input during the engagement process directly shaped a final design everyone can be proud of,” McGirt said.
A rendering of the new pool’s design is available at PublicInput.com/WestAVLPool. This design comes after the city received input from local residents. The new pool will have a wading entry, lap swimming and a maximized deep end. The design also preserves the exterior character of the historic 1935 pool house while upgrading interior amenities for park visitors, the city said in a news release.
According to the release, neighbors near the construction site can expect heavy equipment traffic and construction noise from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The city said the contractor will have the ability to work on Saturdays as needed.
As for Malvern Hills Park, the city said the playground, picnic shelter, parking lot and sports courts are scheduled to remain open during the construction of the new pool.