(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Parks and Recreation Department announced the Grand Opening Celebration for the new Gateway Aquatic Center will be held in June.

"We are ecstatic to see the completion of the Gateway Aquatic Center. Customers and staff alike have been anxiously anticipating this day. With the help of an Ad Hoc Committee and community support, we now have a quality aquatic center that will meet the needs of all ages. I hope everyone can come out and join us in the Grand Opening Celebration. It will be a fun day for all," said Wendy Miller, director of Parks and Recreation Department.

The new $23.5 million Gateway Aquatic Center will include:

• 35,000 square foot complex
• Eight-lane main competition pool with starting platforms (6,752 SF)
• 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards for competition pool
• Separate warm-water pool (3,320 SF) with walk-in entry, interactive toddler water feature, small lap area and resistance training vortex
• Two slides - a long twisty slide into the recreation pool and a drop slide into the diving area.
• Removable climbing wall in diving area
• Sauna
• Large locker rooms and family changing rooms
• Fitness room and break room
• Raised spectator seating for 300 people
• A new playground area

The new aquatic center will connect to the existing Gateway Recreation Center. A new playground will be developed in combination with the new facility.

The grand opening will be held Saturday, June 30, 2012 from 11am - 2pm. The celebration will begin at 11:00 with a community BBQ and ribbon cutting ceremony beginning at 12:00. This event is free and the public is invited to attend.

A "Golden Ticket" lottery for the first 100 swimmers on June 30th is being held, with no cost to enter. For a chance to be one of the first swimmers in the pool, fill out an entry slip at either the Gateway Recreation Center ot the Mike Smithers Community Pool prior to June 15th. The Golden Ticket Swim will be from 12:45-2:00. Following the Golden Ticket swim, there will be three free open swim sessions for the public from 3:30 - 5pm; 5:30-7pm; and 7:30-9pm.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Ketchikan Gateway Borough Parks and Recreation Department

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