The majority of Indian Trails Aquatic Center is over 45 years old, and many elements have reached the end of their useful life. The City has completed a comprehensive Aquatics Study that led to the recommendation to renovate and expand Indian Trails Aquatics Center. 

This project will develop a modernized community-wide aquatic center with the appropriate mix of amenities. The amenities and programming needs were identified through a robust public engagement effort including a community-wide statistically valid survey.

Amenities will include:

• Zero-depth entry pool with interactive features for younger children.
• Climbable play feature with dump bucket.
• Lazy river with a variety of flow currents and features.
  Competition/lap pool, a deep-water alcove and several diving boards.
• Water slide complex with an inner tube slide and speed slide.
• Shade features.
• New family restrooms and open-air admissions area.

Other planned improvements:

• Improve parking and trail connectivity throughout park.
• Add a drop-off/pickup circle near pool entrance.
• Close south access to Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park off of 89th Street.

87th Street Parkway and Greenway Lane, within Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park

Total cost: $15,000,000

Funding sources:

• Capital Improvement Fund: $7,000,000
• Voter-approved 3/8-center sales tax: $8,000,000

Design: Late 2021 through fall 2022

Construction: Late March 2023 through spring 2024

Architect: Confluence

Contractor: McCownGordon

Winter 2023

Feb. 7: City Council approved updated construction contract that includes a 60% guaranteed maximum price. This approval allows for the construction to begin in March.

Fall 2022

After a public engagement campaign during summer 2022, the public voted to change the name of Indian Trails Aquatic Center to Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center once renovations are complete.

Summer 2022

July 5: News story: Indian Trails pool renovation coming soon

June 14: Shared preliminary conceptual design with City Council.

• Conceptual rendering 1
• Conceptual rendering 2
• Conceptual rendering 3

Spring 2022

Engaged 4th and 5th graders at surrounding elementary schools to build excitement and gather input on amenity options.

Winter 2021

Started conceptual design process

Pool renaming effort

As part of the major renovation and rebranding project at Indian Trails Aquatic Center, the City of Lenexa will give this pool a new name.

The goal is to give the flagship facility a more identifiable name associated with the park where it is located. The new name — Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center — was selected by the community through a two-phase public engagement process.

During the name-suggestion phase (July 15–Aug. 3, 2022), community members submitted 230 ideas. The three most commonly suggested names were Sar-Ko-Par, Lenexa and Splash. 

We narrowed the list to three finalists: Lenexa Splash at Sar-Ko-Par, Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center, and Sar-Ko-Par Splash Aquatic Center. The public voted on their favorite option from Sept. 30–Oct. 24, 2022. 

Out of 751 total votes cast, Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center won with 465 votes (62%). Lenexa Splash received 218 votes (29%) and Sar-Ko-Par Splash Aquatic Center received 68 votes (9%).

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Elementary school outreach

In addition to gathering extensive public input as part of the Aquatics Study, City staff engaged 4th and 5th graders at Lenexa elementary schools during spring 2022. They were asked to create their own pool and discuss which features are important to them.

Mandy Danler
Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation
913.477.7120
[email protected]