BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Kim Houston started work 20 years ago on the Bardstown Aquatic and Sports Center (BASC). It's going to built near city hall at Jones Avenue Park, the city announced Friday.
Houston's handling the construction project for the city after retiring recently as its economic director.
"This is actually our sports complex right now," Houston said, gesturing out towards the Bardstown City Pool and nearby volleyball and tennis courts. We have a pool, we have a ball field, we have a pavilion, but all of this will go away for our new 80,000 square foot facility."
It's spacious with massive windows looking onto West Broadway, seen in renderings from Luckett and Farley. The architecture firm is one of the corporate donors funding construction.
Unlike the city pool, the center's pool will be inside. Though plans show there's a big green lawn, playgrounds and splash pads in the outdoor designs.
In total, BASC is a $40 million project. The city's trying to raise the last million dollars required from more donors.
But it's worth it to Bardstown Mayor Richard Heaton and saves swim team families from having to drive to Lebanon for practice.
PHOTOS: Renderings of the Bardstown Aquatic and Sports Center
"That is going to eliminate a big problem they've had ever since they got swim teams, which has been awhile now here," the mayor said.
And on the dry side, Houston's excited too.
"When I say multi-purpose court, I mean we're gonna have four basketball courts that will turn into eight volleyball courts," she explained.
Those also convert into pickleball courts, which have a second-story walkway planned for above.
"With the basketball courts coming in I think it's gonna be very useful. I have a 10-year-old grandson and he's starting to pick up the game. I think it's gonna be awesome for the city and surrounding areas," grandmother Cindy Jordan said, also excited for her grandbaby's to swim inside once it's done.
And if you're nostalgic for Bardstown City Pool as you know it — next summer's your last chance to take a swim before it closes for construction of the new facility. That should be complete by December 2026.
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