Sunday, June 28, 2015
Troy residents discussed the merits and challenges of building a community swimming pool for many years. Many were concerned that outdoor pools in Michigan are open only 25% of the year and have high operation costs. However, by 1990 the City of Troy had amassed a reserve fund to construct a new center with amenities far beyond a lap pool.
The 5-acre Troy Family Aquatic Center located at the north end of the Civic Center was designed by architects William Pollack and Associates of Wheaton, Illinois with designers from Water Technologies of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Their concept included four swimming areas, three slides of varying size, sprays, a waterfall, wet and dry sand areas, two volleyball courts, and a sun hill for lounging and tanning. The 11,000 square foot main pool included a 130 foot zero-depth edge. Swimmers wade into the water along this sloped wading area as they would walk or wade into a lake.
The facility, which accommodates up to 1,200 people, cost $4.3million to construct, and was opened to the public on May 25, 1991. The TFAC generates income through daily and annual passes, swimming lessons, concessions, community events, and facilities rentals. Initially only Troy residents could purchase pool passes. However, in recent years membership plans were instituted for nonresidents and City employees. Today the Troy Family Aquatic Center is recognized as one of the finest community water recreation areas in southeast Michigan.
For more information go to https://tfac.troymi.gov/
To commemorate the City of Troy’s 60th Anniversary in 2015, we will publish a different story each day that highlights a person, discovery, or event that occurred locally, regionally, nationally, or even globally between 1955 and 2015 and that helped shape our lives and our community. We will try to post stories on important anniversary dates, but we also realize that dates are less critical than content and context. We will include the facts related to controversial stories, allowing our readers to form their own opinions. We invite you to read and comment on the stories. Your suggestions for topics are also welcome and can be posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TroyHistoricVillage. You can also email stories or ideas to the 365 Story Editor at ed@thvmail.org.
