Wheeling Park District Aquatic Center Planning
In 2024, the Wheeling Park District retained Counsilman-Hunsaker to assess the 32-year-old Family Aquatic Center (FAC) and explore possibilities for the facility’s future, including repair and renovation, replacement at the existing Heritage Park location, or a new location altogether.
Through the study of the current physical and functional conditions, coupled with the future vision for the Family Aquatic Center, it was recommended for the Wheeling Park District to begin the planning and design process for a new facility. The conditions assessment found a minimum of $7.8M in necessary repairs for the pools, pool systems, and rock work, with the recommendation to conduct a more in-depth investigation into the rock work structural components along with the pool structure. The findings from these assessments could increase the costs significantly higher.
The report, which was presented to and accepted by the Board of Commissioners in October of 2024, outlined several facility types and aquatic amenities that could be explored for a new Wheeling Aquatic Center. The capital costs have a wide range depending on the number and types of pools and amenities that are ultimately selected. In the current aquatic construction climate, similarly sized facilities range in cost from $27M to $34M.
On February 13, 2025, the Wheeling Park District issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified professionals for architectural services, including site and facility layout, civil engineering, and architectural design in connection with the Family Aquatic Center.
On February 28, 2025, the District received submissions from six (6) architectural firms. Those firms were:
• Williams Architects
• Racer Design Studio
• LSA Architecture Inc.
• Confluence
• StudioGC Architecture
• JGMA Architecture
On April 1, 2025, the Board of Commissioners authorized a contract for architectural services in connection with an Aquatic Center with Confluence. This contract was for Task: Project Kickoff and Feasibility Review. This work included the project kick-off, aquatic program verification, a conceptual design workshop, concept review and refinement, and pre-permitting coordination.
Since April, Confluence has conducted several meetings with Park District staff, local agency representatives, and has met with the Board of Commissioners on multiple occasions to discuss the needs and wants for a new aquatic center.
At the July 15 Board Meeting, Confluence completed Task 1 of the project and delivered the aquatic center program and conceptual design package. At that meeting, the Board authorized a contract with Confluence to complete Task 2: Schematic Design. Task 2 includes schematic design plans, schematic site engineering model, estimate of probable construction costs, a presentation of schematic design, and permitting and entitlements review.
Confluence will work to complete Task 2 this fall. Once complete, Confluence will present the details of the schematic design at a future Board meeting.
As this project continues to progress, please check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Additional Resources
July 15, 2025 – “Why Wheeling Could Get a New Multimillion Dollar Aquatic Center” – Daily Herald Article