Douglass Aquatic Center


Douglass Aquatic Center, which opened as the “Douglass Park Pool” in 1939 when pools were segregated, was the first public pool for black residents of Lexington. It reopened in fall 2025 after extensive renovations. The new pool includes features unique to public pools in Lexington, including the first “wet bubble” in Kentucky. In addition to the “wet bubble,” the new aquatic center and sprayground features zero-depth entry, a shaded stair entry with benches, a basketball goal, a water slide, a splash bucket, spray fountains, a water play table, and multiple shade areas with tables and lounge chairs. A zip line and diving board opened at the beginning of the 2026 pool season.

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Current Sustainable Practices

Below are the initiatives Douglass Aquatic Center has completed on the Green Check scorecard.

Sustainability Management and the Green Team

  • Develop a written Comprehensive Sustainability Plan.
  • Provide time for quarterly sustainability updates in upper management meetings.

Awareness, Education and Outreach

  • Share monthly sustainability tips in a newsletter or on social.
  • Include a sustainability statement and training in new hire materials or at employee orientation.
  • Offer trainings or workshops to educate employees about sustainability issues, policies and procedures.
  • Promote sustainability accomplishments in external marketing materials.
  • Provide volunteers for community environmental projects annually.
  • Attend a sustainability workshop, tour or event.

Energy Efficiency

  • Assess, track, and document energy consumption.
  • Establish a power-down policy and checklist that includes items such as shutting off lights at night.
  • Set water heater thermostats to a maximum of 120 degrees or install an inline water heater.
  • Replace incandescent or CFL lights with LED lights 76-100% replacement.
  • Achieve a year-over reduction in energy usage from the baseline of at least 5%.
  • Establish a regular filter maintenance policy for your HVAC system.
  • Have your HVAC system evaluated every 2 years by a certified service provider.
  • Establish a policy for purchasing that requires Energy Star rated appliances and electronics.
  • Utilize power management features of operating system to turn off non-essential lights and equipment during non-business hours.
  • Install programmable thermostats and use them to adjust temperature during unoccupied hours.
  • Install occupancy sensors in bathrooms, meeting rooms, and other infrequently used areas.
  • Conduct an energy audit or assessment.
  • Install or upgrade to energy efficient fans.
  • Install energy efficient (i.e. Energy Star) rated windows in all conditioned spaces.
  • Insulate roof to control energy loss.
  • Install efficiency-rated HVAC of minimum standard SEER2 rating of 17.0.
  • Take measures to insulate HVAC system and ductwork to minimize heat loss.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

  • Implement a basic recycling program.
  • Train and require janitorial service or staff responsible for cleaning to segregate waste and recyclable materials.
  • Establish an electronic waste policy that diverts all e-waste away from landfill.

Water Conservation

  • Assess, track, and document water consumption.
  • Conduct a water audit within the last three years.
  • Establish a policy for purchase of high efficiency (i.e. WaterSense) rated fixtures and appliances.
  • Install water efficient faucets in all of the restrooms.
  • Install water efficient toilets in all of the restrooms.

Water Quality

  • Establish a policy for proper hazardous waste and chemical disposal.
  • Establish a policy for proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
  • Establish preventative maintenance program for sanitary sewer lateral lines on your property.
  • Coordinate or participate in a litter clean-up.

Urban Forestry & Landscapes

  • Install planter boxes or other permeable surface.
  • Establish a native species-only plant replacement policy for tree and shrub planting, where applicable.
  • Remove all invasive species from property, where reasonable.
  • Establish an Integrated Pest Management policy to reduce use of pesticides in the landscape.
  • Establish environmentally friendly lawn care policies to reduce chemical pesticide and fertilizer use.

Sustainable Purchasing

  • Establish a policy for reducing the toxic chemicals/materials in your workplace.
  • Establish a policy to purchase non-Styrofoam cups and plates for use at the workplace or at events.
  • Establish a policy for purchasing locally, if available.
  • Establish a policy for purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

Transportation Efficiency

  • Establish and implement a no-idling policy.
  • Install a bike rack with sufficient space for at least 10% of your employees.
  • Place bicycle storage closer than any other designated parking spot.
  • Provide employee shower and dressing room facility.

Innovation

  • Offers free swim lessons
  • Accessible features such as zero-depth entry
  • Worked closely with neighborhood in designing pool
  • Sprayground is on timer and chemicals are automated
  • Signage posted in English and Spanish

Certified as a Silver Green Check member since 2026