Community Frustration Over Delayed Douglass Aquatic Center
Residents of the Georgetown Street area in Lexington have been waiting for nearly two full summers without access to their neighborhood pool. The Douglass Aquatic Center, which was expected to open in the summer of 2024, remains under construction as of July 2025. This prolonged delay has raised concerns among local leaders and community members who feel the lack of a safe space for youth is impacting the area’s quality of life.
Stephen Overstreet, the president of the Georgetown Street Area neighborhood, expressed his frustration over the situation. He emphasized the importance of having a place where children can enjoy their summer vacations and stay active. “It’s very important that we have outlets for these young kids to be able to go to enjoy their summer because we don’t know where they are if they’re not in this park,” he said. Overstreet acknowledged that the city government is not to blame for the delays, but he remains concerned about the long-term impact on the community.
The City of Lexington and Marrillia Design and Construction, the company responsible for the project, have not provided a clear timeline for the pool’s reopening. Both entities have cited weather conditions as a primary cause of the setbacks. Darin Deshon, a site manager with Marrillia Design and Construction, explained that unexpected challenges have arisen during the excavation process. “Some of the delays we’ve had, in excavating the pool that was here, we encountered actually two other pools that they had actually built on top,” he said.
Deshon noted that when 50 percent of the workday is expected to be rainy, concrete pouring cannot take place. However, the team continues working on other parts of the project, such as the pump room and pool house, during inclement weather. Despite these efforts, the project has faced ongoing delays due to unpredictable weather patterns, including harsh winters, severe spring rains, and high wind activity.
Overstreet highlighted that the neighborhood feels underserved and believes this lack of investment contributes to its negative reputation. “I think that’s a fair term because it doesn’t mean we’re more poor, or we’re more impoverished than anyone. We just get less service than everyone else,” he said. He stressed that while frustration is understandable, the community must continue to advocate for itself and hold officials accountable.
Monica Conrad, Director of Lexington Parks & Recreation, shared the city’s perspective on the delays. She mentioned that unexpected challenges with Mother Nature have significantly impacted the project timeline. “We have faced unexpected challenges with Mother Nature, punctuated by harsh winter conditions, severe spring rains, high wind activity and continued rains since late May. Unfortunately, this has caused many of our projects to fall behind schedule,” she said.
Conrad reiterated the city’s commitment to completing the Douglass Aquatic Center and opening it as soon as possible. “Our goal remains to have the pool open this summer. We are eager to open what will be a beautiful new aquatic center that the neighborhood can be proud of, which will include exciting new features unique to this location,” she added.
For now, residents remain hopeful that the pool will eventually open and provide a much-needed recreational space for the community. While the delays have been frustrating, the focus remains on ensuring the project is completed to the highest standards and serves the needs of the neighborhood for years to come.
