NEWBURGH, NY — On September 6, 2023, CPL joined local officials and members of the Orange County community to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new, highly anticipated Delano-Hitch Aquatic Center.
Situated on Washington Street within the 27-acre Delano-Hitch Recreation Park, the existing aquatic center, built in 1932, closed in 2018 due to extensive wear and tear. In response, the City Council sought to develop a secure, more accessible replacement, recognizing the community’s need for a centralized hub to gather, swim and engage.
Through interactive workshops with the City Planner, the City Engineer and the Newburgh Department of Parks and Recreation, CPL was chosen to deliver the $13 million project, which will include an upgraded pool, a modern splash pad with 26 different play elements and a new pool house with a dedicated concessions area, first aid amenities, locker rooms and showers, a family bathroom and ample parking. The entire center will meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.
The design will also honor the original building’s heritage with brick siding and metal roofing while preserving its entry arch, which features a historic plaque commemorating Annie Delano Hitch, the park’s land donor.
“The city has gone more than five years without a public pool, so the center’s groundbreaking marks a significant milestone,” explained CPL Architect Jonathan DiRocco, AIA, who served as Project Manager. “Once complete, the center will reintroduce swimming education to a whole new generation.”
Inclusivity also emerged as a top priority during the design process—the addition of the splash pad will allow even Newburgh’s youngest residents, who can’t swim, to join in on the fun and cool off safely.
Serving as Architect of Record, CPL provided comprehensive planning, architectural, engineering and interior design services, and will collaborate with Arcadis (Construction Manager) to complete the project.
Partial funding for the work comes from an allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), supplemented by the city’s initial operations.
The 2.4-acre facility is expected to open to the public in 2025.
About CPL
Founded in 1975, CPL is a 500+ person multi-disciplined architecture, engineering and planning firm offering inspiring design services and enriching communities in 21 cities across seven states. CPL specializes in the Community, Healthcare, Higher Education, K-12 Education and Transportation market sectors – providing architectural, interior design, civil engineering, buildings and structural engineering, planning, landscape architecture and 3D/virtual design services to a host of public and private clients.