By Farai Chikore
CHINHOYI – THE once dilapidated public swimming pool, which was built by council during the colonial era has been refurbished by a local private player.
Chinhoyi entrepreneur, Corrington James, upgraded the facility giving the obsolete installation a new lease of life, optimising its efficiency and making it more attractive to users.
The swimming pool was constructed in 1940 and officially opened in 1945, but since then nothing was done in terms of upgrading of the structure.
James razed down the whole structure after it was condemned by building inspectors.
The new aquatic complex is being upgraded in three phases and the first phase of renovating the old swimming pool and adding two other pools is now complete and is already open to the public.
The pools are three – one for children, adults and another one for training and vetting before one is permitted to use any other pools within the complex.
James took Telegraph news crew on a tour of the complex, explaining his plans and the outlook of the facility.
The state-of-the art facility has two tiled and nicely decorated changing rooms, one for males and the other one for females with three bathing rooms and toilets for adults and children.
The structure also has a restaurant, candy shop, flower beds, fish pond and a butchery designed to serve those inside and outside the swimming pool complex.
All these were indicators set for the first phase.
The second phase, which has started, will have a double storey building which will house a gym, beauty parlour, bar and two offices on the ground floor. The first floor will be a balcony for spectators.
The third phase will see the construction of a soccer five-aside stadium, currently the terraces have been constructed and what is left is the shed and a perimeter fencing for the pitch.
The current cash office which has a concrete roof, will have a guard room on top for the security personnel.
In front of the aquatic complex, they are plans to construct a car wash, braai area, 360 photo booth with artificial hay for those who may require the facility.
James defended the admission fee of US$3 for children and US$5 for adults saying running such a facility attracted costs from water chemicals which amounts to around USD$350 and around USD$20 per day for electricity.
He added that church baptism services would be for free.
Coach Ellen Chibanda employed a life guard at the pool said she can train anyone of an age and even James went through her training in swimming.
Refurbishing a swimming pool with high quality, natural materials and upgraded technology has refreshed a dilapidated swimming pool and turned it into water feature with added functionality with far lower running costs.
Older pools which use outdated equipment for filtration and heating are usually costly to run.
