Carson Aquatic Center opens after two weeks

The newly reopened Carson Aquatic Facility is a study in contrast.

On one side, floor-to-ceiling windows provide a golden natural light and a view of leaves falling in Mills Park. On the other yellow plywood stands blocking the view of contractors working to meet a January deadline for the rest of the structure.

The newly covered 50-meter swimming pool opened to the public Monday for the first time.

"This is the nicest facility I've ever swam in," said Jeff Schmitz of Reno. "It's great, the lanes are wide and the water's clean. It's very open and airy. It's beautiful."

The entire facility has been closed for two weeks while construction details were completed. The new facility is offering extended hours and will allow parks and recreation staff to run more programs in the pool, said Supervising Lifeguard Tami Redmond.

"In the old pool we could only run one program at a time," Redmond said. "It seemed just fine before, but you look at the two now and it's amazing. The old one looks like a pond out there."

The pool was completed in time for the Nevada State Short Course Swimming Championships in November.

Carson Tigershark's President Charles Keller said the aquatic facility is a superb facility.

"It's probably one of the best facilities on the west coast for short and long course swimming," Keller said. "It's a far better facility than anything they have in southern Nevada. Parks and Rec has done a great job making it work for not only competitive swimming, but also for the community."

Phase II on the $3.6 million project should be completed in January and includes the demolition of the building surrounding the existing indoor pool, construction of a therapy pool and building around the pool, a slide for the 25-yard pool and reconstruction of the facility's mechanical room. Phase I included enclosing the 50-meter pool, working on outside heating and air conditioning and reconfiguring the dressing rooms.