By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Race track construction, a new swimming pool, and the upcoming holiday season are keeping city of Great Bend employees busy as 2025 reaches its conclusion. City Administrator Logan Burns updated the council on the various projects at Monday's city council meeting.
A $9-10 million pool concept was introduced in October. The pool committee has continued to review different aspects of that project and will meet tonight to approve a final pool concept. That design will go before the city council for approval at the Dec. 15 meeting. If approved, a contract for the construction of the pool at Brit Spaugh Park could also be approved. Construction is slated to begin after the swim season in August 2026.
Great Bend's Home for the Holidays Festival and Parade will take place on Saturday, Nov. 29, with a theme of "Holiday Movie Madness." Burns said the city's Christmas lights will shine a few days before that.
"Christmas lights will go live on Nov. 26, then we will light the Mayor's Tree at the Home for the Holidays Festival on Nov. 29," he said. "I might be biased, but I think we have some of the best trail lights around."
The Great Bend Rec Commission is hosting a "Let's Talk Golf" event at Dry Lake Brewing tonight to discuss plans involving the former Club at Stoneridge course.
"That will be from 4:30 until 7 p.m. at Dry Lake Brewing," Burns said. "Chris Umphres and his staff will be unveiling the concept they've gotten back from their consultant. They've reallocated some holes, they've got a clubhouse, and they're looking at the possibility of an indoor pickleball arena."
Burns also updated the council on construction at the SRCA Dragstrip west of town. Crews will begin stockpiling aggregate on Dec. 2, then lay down steel mats. Paving of the facility is expected to begin on Dec. 10.