With the completion of the nearly ten-year project, Sandusky City Schools celebrated the grand opening of the renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community tour. Students, staff, alumni, and guests were some of the first to experience the state-of-the-art facility that will also be available to the community in partnership with the Erie County Health Department.
Due to its proximity to Lake Erie, swimming is a significant element of the Sandusky culture, and the new facility will provide a sense of pride for local residents. Designed for competition and training, the renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center includes a family locker room with bathroom/changing rooms.
Central to the facility is the 6-lane, 8-foot-deep, 75-foot competition pool that is monitored and maintained by an advanced filtration and treatment system. The 141,390 gallon pool is handicap accessible through the specially designed extended entry stairs or a motorized lift. Swimmers will experience enhanced communication through the underwater sound system.
Spectators will enjoy the plentiful 7-row, 250-seat bleachers alongside the pool, giving them a clear view of the action and timing system with a digital scoreboard.
“This center is much more than just a pool. It’s a space for learning, for growth, for connection, and for safety,” said Sandusky City Schools Superintendent Daniel Rambler, “It reflects our district’s ongoing commitment to student success, community engagement, and lifelong wellness.”
Intended for the youngest swimmers to seasoned athletes to active seniors, the renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center is a cornerstone of wellness and recreation in Sandusky, Ohio, providing a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for all.
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Arie Swirsky, RA, was the architect for the project. “This pool is more than a renovation,” he said, “It stands as a symbol of resilience, collaboration, and vision. We had unique challenges to overcome, like COVID, bedrock, and inflation. We navigated through those complexities within an existing building.”
One of the engineering challenges was explained by Senior Project Manager Rick Kusmer with Mosser Construction Group. He shared a story about using a large excavator fitted with a ramming hoe for one month straight in the deep end of the pool. The excavator hammered out rock five feet deep and eight feet across.
After a support wall was removed, the roof of the building was held up by steel stilts. Rick said, “Many nights I’d wake up at about three in the morning thinking, ‘I hope those things hold.’ We do a lot of engineering, but even contractors sit up at night worrying about that stuff.”
“The project is an achievement that reflects the heart, vision, and collaboration of our entire community,” said Interim Athletic Director Steve Camella. “This is more than just a pool. This is a place where dreams begin, where confidence grows, and where champions in the water and in life will be made.”
The renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center is meant to be a resource for the community. Whether visitors take swim lessons, join in water fitness classes, or want to spend quality time with family and friends, the clean and welcoming atmosphere is intended to be a shared space that strengthens community ties.
The Renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center Opens
“This couldn’t have happened without all the generous donations,” said Sandusky City Schools CFO and Treasurer Yvonne Anderson, who expressed her gratitude and hope for the future. “I’m sure our community and students will cherish this wonderful aquatic center for many years to come.”
The renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center was made possible because of the kindness of over 500 organizations and individual donors, with the support of the Sandusky Education Foundation. The foundation had a significant impact on the project’s development.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Past-President James Hart explained how the organization began, “A little over eight years ago, a group of Blue Streak alums and supporters met on numerous occasions to talk about the condition of the SHS swimming pool that was built in the 1950s. A group fondly called the Pool Committee was formed.”
The Pool Committee became the Sandusky Education Foundation, and their efforts made the vision of a cutting-edge athletic facility become a reality. Open to the community and other school districts, the renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center is the gold standard for fostering athletic excellence by providing a dedicated space for student athletes to train, grow, and compete.
“This renovation ensures that swimmers of all skill levels can enjoy a safe, inclusive, and high-quality experience,” Arie said. “Whether learning to swim, training for competition, or simply enjoying time in the water, this facility will serve as a place of growth, connection, and forging unforgettable moments.”
Placing a high value on health and wellness for people of all abilities and ages, the center promotes swim lessons and water safety to ensure students and community members have access to life-saving learning opportunities.
With a successful open house ribbon cutting ceremony and tour, the newly renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center and competition pool will serve Sandusky City Schools, the Erie County Health Department, and surrounding communities for decades to come.
The Renovated Sandusky Aquatic Center Ribbon Cutting and Tour
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