ZELIENOPLE — The borough’s Community Park Board wants to rebuild its pool with what a consultant called “pizzazz.”

The board and residents heard presentations Thursday night from two consultants who were hired by the board to create proposals for a new pool in the Community Park.

The cost to replace the current pool, which was built in 1957 and would be difficult to rehabilitate, is estimated at $2.1 million.

The new pool would cost an estimated $1.5 million, while a plan to redo the patio and surrounding areas is estimated to cost $600,000, park board President Jeff Barkley said.

Wayne Wade of Harrisburg-based Wade Associates said that one of his firm’s goals is to design pools that provide additional value to the community and can become financially self sufficient.

“We look at what can we do to generate additional use and additional income, to at least become self sufficient. That’s why we recommend some of the pizzazz,” Wade said.

The firm is taking the same approach as it works with Butler County to redo the pool in Alameda Park, he said.

The proposed plan would combine the wading pool, general use pool and water slide into one continuous pool. This design makes operation more efficient as the pool would only need one water filtration system.

The total surface area would increase from 6,100 square feet to 6,400 square feet, though the entire plan stays within the current pool’s same fenced-in area.

The new pool would have two zero-depth access points, making it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The wading pool would have fountains, and a bigger waterslide would empty into a 4-foot deep area that could also be used for other activities. It would also be heated and have diving boards, two things the current pool lacks.

Ben Levenger, a landscape design planner from E.G. and G., introduced the plans for the area surrounding the pool.

The proposal includes a new pavilion with an outdoor fireplace and grill that could be rented for parties or other events.

It also includes both shaded and non-shaded areas for people to relax or watch the pool.

With the support of the community and the borough, the park board’s next step is to form a committee to look into fundraising, sponsorship and grant options, Barkley said. The process is expected to take several years.

Funding could come from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the federal government and Butler County.

Levenger, whose firm is also working with the borough on its Main Street revitalization, said that the two projects could be complementary to each other when applying for grants. Though the borough has applied for grant money for the Main Street project from some of the same agencies, parks and recreation programs would come from a “different pot” of money, he said.

Tom Murray, who operates a property rental business in Zelienople, said he thought it was a good plan.

“I think it’s a doable project if you get some of the council members behind it to help with the grants and financing,” he said.

Around the time that the pool was built, the park’s operations were heavily supported by donations from local businesses rather than tax dollars.

Today, the park receives a $50,000 annual budget from the borough.

The board does intend to seek support from local businesses and individual donors for the new pool.

The pool proposal includes a list of amenities, each with a projected price. This will allow the park board to solicit sponsorships for individual parts. A business can make a donation to cover the cost of the water slide, for example, and in return would get its name displayed on it.