Rec Yeah! New indoor pool opens Monday morning

The $52.5 million bond that North Platte voters approved in 2022 will start paying off at 6 a.m. Monday when the new swimming pool opens at the North Platte Recreation Center.

The new pool at the Rec Center is the first phase of what will be a greatly-expanded center. The pool area includes a smaller zero-entry pool for children, a hot tub, water slides and a sauna. The big pool is competition size. Also, new entrances on both the north and south sides of the center will open Monday.

The entire rec center has been closed for two weeks while the dome over the old pool is removed and the finishing touches applied to the new pool. The framework of the old dome is slated for removal Monday, but it is not expected to disrupt the activities. The existing locker rooms, weight rooms, game room, and gym will reopen.

In the new configuration, parking is available near the entrances from McDonald Road. Follow the driveway around the fieldhouse to reach the main lot. Signs will be placed around the facility to provide additional parking guidance, city parks and recreation officials said.

An overview of the Rec Center complex, with new parking lots and entrances. City of North Platte. Still to come at the new rec center is a climbing wall and expansive courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, indoor soccer, baseball drills and tennis. Exercise and yoga classes will be held upstairs, with an outdoor deck available to use when the weather is good.

There will be a large indoor track with room for both walkers and runners, plus room for spectators to watch competitions in the pool and at the courts.

In addition, a $7 million upgrade to the outdoor Cody Park pool will provide renovations that are expected to last long into the future. A water park, jumbo water slides and a lazy river have been added. A lazy river is a channel of water that allows swimmers to float down the stream on tubes.

The outdoor Cody Park pool is expected to open early in July.

Previously, a new city $500,000 skate park was built in Centennial Park. A smaller skate park is planned on the north side of town near Madison Middle School.

Supporters of the $52.5 million bond used the slogan, “Rec Yeah!” to help convince voters to support the bond issue at the voting booth.

The bond is paid with a half-cent per dollar increase in city sales tax that is expected to last about 15 years.

Below : Photos by Craig Warneke

Rec Yeah! New indoor pool opens Monday morning

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