By Joseph Courtney, staff intern

This summer, the Shakopee Aquatic Park will have a new diving board, in addition to a different park building.

The city council voted earlier this month to replace the old board, whose slip-resistant surface has worn off. It also has signs of aging on the support structure and rails.

Shakopee recreation supervisor Travis Karlen, who is in charge of the project, said he’s not sure when the current board was installed, but it’s past its life expectancy.

The project will cost the city $12,816, which will be paid through a fund balance in the recreation fund. In 2006, the center collected more money than expected due to expanded fitness offerings and healthcare reimbursement programs.

Olympic Pools will begin removing the aquatic park’s old board soon and should be finished in a few weeks, Karlen said. He is not sure how long it will take to install the new board.

Meanwhile, construction of the new support building at the aquatic park should be done in the first half of May if the weather is cooperative, Karlen said. The interior of the building, which includes locker rooms and a concession area, is nearly complete, and the outside cement and landscaping work will begin as soon as the weather permits.

The city is also taking steps toward replacing park’s waterslide next year. It has budgeted $100,000 in 2008 for the project.

Slides usually last about 20 years, Karlen said. The current slide was installed in 1985 and is in need of repairs.

Karlen said waterslides can vary significantly in price, some costing up to $500,000, though he doesn’t think it will cost that much.

Other improvements that have been proposed for the park include a new sand playground, additional shade structures and fence replacement. These proposals will be presented at a future city council meeting to make sure they are within budget, Karlen said.

Joseph Courtney is a University of Minnesota student interning for the Shakopee Valley News. He can be reached at court061@umn.edu.