New bathhouse being constructed at Lake Park campgrounds
Hathaway Incorporated employees have been busy laying block for the new bathhouse at Lake Park’s campground. The new facility’s estimated completion date is May 1, just in time for camping season. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – A brand new and improved bathhouse will greet visitors to Lake Park this spring.
“It is total new construction,” said Lori Everhart, park director. “We tore the existing bathhouse down and the new one is in pretty much the same location.”
She said there were several issues with the old bathhouse with drainage, the structure itself and ventilation.
“It also was become a dangerous situation because there was mold in the showers,” Everhart said. “We were just at the point where it was going to cost more to make it right with the old one than to build a new one.”
She believes the original structure was built sometime in the 1950s and additions were put on both ends in the late 1990s to create a handicap stall on the men’s and women’s side.
“Other than that addition nothing else has been done since then,” Everhart said.
The new facility will be about the same size at 2,500 square feet. There will again be three showers on each side for men and women and a separate handicapped stall on each side.
“The entire building will be handicap accessible, well ventilated, well lit and very easy to clean,” Everhart said. “We thought of all the problems we had with the old bathhouse and tried to correct them.”
The cost of the new structure is being covered by donations from various foundations and Friends of the Parks, a $42,000 grant from NatureWorks and park levy funds.
“It was a two part project,” Everhart said. “The first was demo and fill. We had to bring in a lot of fill to build the area up to flood plain regulations. That cost about $20,000. The actual construction and material part, which is being done by local contractor Hathaway Incorporated is $301,000.”
The project is estimated to be completed just in time for camping season on May 1.
“The campers are very excited and looking forward to it,” Everhart said. “We are already filled for Memorial Day weekend and have a waiting list.”
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