Enumclaw has begun improving the local pool.

Construction on a new entry way, party room, family changing rooms, and Americans with Disability Act updates began on Jan. 2.

“Demo has started, and they’re really tearing into it,” said City Parks and Recreation Director Alina Hibbs.

The whole project was budgeted at $2.4 million — half of which being a grant from King County — but the bid came in at less than $2.1 million, giving the city some wiggle room when it comes to possible unexpected developments.

“It is a very old building, so we are aware that we may uncover some things that need to be repaired along the way that will add additional costs,” Hibbs said.

Hibbs added construction on this project is slated to end in late August.

In general, the pool should remain open to the public until then.

An exception is this coming Thursday and Friday, Feb. 1 and 2, for sewer work, and down the road when bathrooms are being renovated, but barring any other unforeseen circumstances, the only major impact to patrons will be possible noise and having to use the new temporary entry way in the back of the building. Make sure to check the pool’s Facebook page or city website for any updates.

But that’s not the end of the pool’s improvements: a new roof will be installed during the pool’s annual maintenance closure from late August to Labor day, meaning all construction should be complete by Sept. 2.

The new roof budget was $1.2 million — again, half a grant from the county — but the bid came in at just over $850,000.

These projects are just the first of what some hope to be major improvements at the pool in the undetermined future. Around five years ago, city administration and elected officials expressed support of a pool overhaul that included building a splash pad, exterior patio leisure pool, and therapy and spa pools, but as of recently, no serious attempt to budget for these projects has been discussed — let alone how the city might find funding for projects expected to cost millions.