Woodward, Oklahoma Aquatic Center, Northwest Oklahoma Natatorium

The Dream

In 1995, The City of Woodward set aside funding to conduct a Recreation and Aquatic Facility Feasibility Study. The study had support from the community but ultimately did not move forward. Fast forward to 2021, the need and want for a public swimming destination is still strong and we are now exploring this idea more fully and to serve a broader audience.

A new committee has been launched to start the legwork of designing an Aquatic Center. Based on community feedback along with other demographic and benchmark data, a series of conceptual facility recommendations will be developed. From those recommendations, the team will develop an operational plan for the proposed facility, and the estimated project budget. Once the concept design package is complete, future steps will be determined.

The Journey

UPDATE AUGUST 2023: The conceptual design phase is complete and the committee has started a fundraising campaign to help make our dream building a reality.

In October 2022, we met our fundraising goal of $70,000 to start the conceptual design phase of this project! Thank you to all who donated. If you're interested in adding to our funds, please scroll to the bottom of this page to access our secure online donation portal. If you would prefer to mail a check, please send it to the following address: Woodward Community Foundation, FBO Woodward Aquatic Center 1006 Oklahoma Ave. Woodward, OK 73801

The full feasibility report is complete and available to review by clicking HERE.

The construction cost estimate is approximately 30 million dollars with estimated annual operational cost of $475,000.

How Aquatics Benefit Everyone

Learn-to-swim and water safety opportunities for Northwest Oklahoma residents
Low-impact cardio that builds endurance, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness to help maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart, and lungs!
Can provide a relaxing and peaceful form of exercise, which in turn can alleviate stress
Water aerobics improves coordination, balance, posture, and flexibility
Low-impact therapy can provide great benefits to those dealing with or recovering from certain injuries and conditions
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, swimming is one of the safest forms of exercise during pregnancy
Swimming is an all-body workout, toning muscle, and building endurance
Indoor aquatic facilities provide a year-round fitness destination

Three Simple Ways to Help

1. Read the Survey Results! A survey was live between January 25th - April 1st, 2021. Below is a summary of the results. If you would like to see the full results, please click here.

Key Takeaways:

We received over 1,800 responses to our survey along with many comments! Below are the key takeaways. Overall, survey takers were supportive of the effort with:

89% selecting either Enthusiastically Supportive (72.62%) or Moderately Supportive (17.14%)

54% of respondents stated that they think this project should be a high priority, with 30% starting medium priority

Currently, existing pools in Woodward are not meeting the majority of households needs

79% of survey takers responded stating there are unmet needs with existing facilities

47%, stated that “Existing facilities are not designed for the kinds of activities I am interested in”

In regard to preferences there were clear front-runners for aquatic components and programming:

Aquatic Components

First Need: Aquatic Therapy Pool (85%)

Second Need: Warm Water Leisure Pool (78%)

Third Need: Spa/Hot Tub/Whirpool (69%)

Programming Components

First Desire: Water Exercise Classes (70%)

Second Desire: Recreational Swimming (67%)

Third Desire: Water Therapy (59%)

2. Spread the Word. Be an advocate for the project by sharing this website within your Woodward network. If you're on social media, please also follow us on Facebook!

3. Make a Donation. If it is feasible for you to donate, we are accepting tax-deductible donations to fund the concept design package. Please note, your donation will go toward the completion of a concept design package only. If you’re ready to donate, a secure payment portal is at the bottom of this website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How will the study be funded?

A: This is NOT a city project, the goal is to build a facility through private funding. Currently, we have fundraised enough to engage a design team and begin a concept design package. If you are interested in donating additional funds to this cause, see the bottom of this site for a secure payment option.

Q: Will this pool just be for children?

A: No! Our goal with the aquatic center is for it to be multigenerational, serving all ages and abilities of our community.

Q: Will this be an outdoor or indoor pool?

A: To get as much usage as possible, we’re planning on an indoor pool thus allowing for year-round participation.

Q: Who is designing this facility?

A: The committee is working with Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture, one of the premier designers of recreational facilities in the United States. They are based out of Denver, Colorado. If you’re interested in learning more about them, visit their website here: www.brsarch.com

Q: How much will this facility cost to build?

A: The cost of the facility will be highly dependent on what amenities are included. We can say that similar facilities in other communities have cost between $10 to $20 million.

Q: Where will the facility be located?

A: The proposed location is the corner of 13th and Downs Ave. in Woodward, OK. We’re excited about this location due to the adjacencies to the high school and senior center, it will allow easy access for both senior citizens and high school students.

Q: I am excited! When will this be built?

A: At this point, a construction start date is still unknown. Once a concept design package is completed, an architectural rendering and operational plan can be developed, this stage is still awaiting funding.

Q: Who is behind this effort?

A: The working committee consists of Dr.Trent Yadon, Gary Goetzinger, Kris Martin, Rachael VanHorn and Hunter Richardson. If you would like to help the aquatic center committee, please email [email protected]

Q: Where will the money come from to build the Aquatic Center?

A: A funding strategy will need to be found involving private funds, endowments, grants, and public sources.

Inspirational Image Gallery

We’ve selected images of various other projects meant to inspire and excite you about the possibilities for a lifestyle pool in Northwest Oklahoma. While none of these examples will be an exact replica of our center, they introduce the amenities, size and programming ideas that we are seeking in our future aquatic center.

LAP LANES

LAZY RIVER/RESISTANCE CURRENT

WATER PLAYGROUND

WATER SLIDES

COMPETITION SWIMMING

WELLNESS POOL

What Locals Are Saying

“There are so many ways in which an aquatic center can benefit our community. I grew up a competitive swimmer and know it’s an activity that provides fun and enjoyment for all ages. I’m a physical therapist now and we really need a place to help adults to improve their cardiovascular endurance while limiting the impact on their joints. It can also be a place to help kids improve physically and emotionally. An indoor aquatic facility can be transformed to facilitate exercise, an obstacle course for fun, a gym for recovering from injury or just a safe, clean place for families to enjoy.

– Hunter Richardson

“I have worked at Woodward Hospital my entire career and also currently serve on the Woodward City Commission. I will never forget the time when the hospital was recruiting a physician to Woodward that we felt was a perfect match for the community and northwest Oklahoma. Ultimately, we lost the highly needed specialist to another community because his daughter was a competitive swimmer and Woodward did not have the facilities she needed to train for her sport. As a long term citizen of Woodward and someone who cares about the attractiveness of our city and our ability to attract professionals, I would love to see an indoor Aquatic Center located here!”

– John Brown

“My teenage son has said to me, “Dad, there are only two things for people to do in this town - bowling and crime.” He knew this was a melodramatic overstatement, but it still has a ring of truth. There’s not a whole lot of fun, wholesome recreational things for youth to do in our area. Something like this aquatic center would be fun for all ages. I think it would attract a lot of people to our town, and keep others here who might otherwise leave. I think it should be a high priority project for Woodward.”

– Shannon Davis

“An aquatics center in Woodward would be such a tremendous asset for our community. I’m a firm believer that learning to swim is not a luxury, but a necessity. This year-round facility would offer a place for every child and adult to learn to swim. Other amenities would potentially include aquatic exercise classes, lap lanes, water safety instruction, a water playground and a multitude of other water and swimming-related programs. An aquatics facility provides incredible opportunities for all and benefits everyone, regardless of age or physical capabilities. This exciting opportunity would be a terrific addition to our city and I very much look forward to this becoming a reality.”

– Leah Barby

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