De Pere VFW Aquatic Facility

The City of De Pere, WI added a new $7 million aquatic center. The project entails the conversion of the city’s former two public pools into “mini aquatic centers.”

The VFW Aquatic Facility includes an entirely new 6,150-square-foot facility with a bathhouse containing bathrooms/changing rooms, office and guard spaces, first aid, entry lobby, meeting rooms, family changing rooms, and a concessions wing. A separate 1,250-square-foot mechanical building will house the pumps and chemical rooms and provide storage space. The aquatic features include a lap pool with a dive well, activity zone, water walk, dual body slides, drop slide, separate tot pool with zero depth entry, and tot play features.

The first phase of work included review and analysis of the existing aquatic facility and VFW Park features, along with the development of a conceptual design plan and a budget estimate for a new and unique replacement aquatic center. The GRAEF/WTI team collected and reviewed existing data and information, and conducted public meetings and interviews with key stakeholders. Multiple design option renderings and budgets were prepared and presented.

“We’ve been very happy with GRAEF. The VFW Aquatic Facility is planned to be a more interactive and recreational pool than our other facility,” said Marty Kosobucki, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry for the City of De Pere. “We are excited for the construction of this pool, as it will add a new element of quality of life to our residents, as it’s something we have not had before.”

The pool opened to the public in June 2021.