Cushing, Oklahoma - City Park Veterans Memorial Pool & Aquatic Center (Water Park)

The original Cushing City Memorial Pool was completed and dedicated in 1949. It was a large concrete, steel, and wood structure with a large pool within the enclosure. The lighted pool was equipped with both low and high diving boards, lifeguard stations, and a “kiddie pool” area. The structure was situated on a 2.5 acre tract of a city park, then known as "Veterans Memorial Park," and now known as “City of Cushing Memorial Park.” The front entry, on the west side, featured a three-tier façade with the bottom (ground-level) tier being enclosed with windows and doors, and containing dressing rooms, restrooms, equipment and storage facilities, office and concession spaces, and mechanical and machinery rooms. The 2nd tier served as an observation platform on top of and surrounding the bottom level of the entire structure. A protective steel guard rail surrounded the 2nd tier. The 3rd tier was only positioned above the main entry façade to the pool, was supported by 3 concrete pillars, had guard rails, and displayed large letters spelling out “Memorial Pool.” Rising from the front entrance to the pool was a tall concrete pillar, located in front of the main doors to the facility. The pillar had 3 segments, including a segment between the ground level and the 2nd tier, another segment between the 2nd and 3rd tiers, and the third rising above the top (3rd) tier. The word “City” was marked on the top segment of the central pillar; the word “Park” on the middle segment, and the ground-level segment displayed a bronze plaque inscribed: “This pool given by the citizens of Cushing, Oklahoma in memory of the men & women who served in World Wars I & II” “Erected & Dedicated 1949” Two memorial markers were located on the grounds adjacent to the Pool. The first was the American War Mothers Club stone monument, which is a thick tan stone marker incised on the front with a replica of an American Flag, superimposed by a cloud and engraved with the wording: “In memory of all who served in World War Two” and “Erected by American War Mothers Club 1949” The top marker is mounted on a thick rectangular slab of the same stone, and rests on a concrete pad. The second V.F.W. Post 1118 memorial marker is a gray granite stone Christian Cross, incised on the front with another interior Cross featuring a circle in the middle inscribed with the wording: “V.F.W. Post 1118” The lower section of the incised Cross is decorated with floral engravings. At the base of the Cross marker is engraved: “Dedicated to Veterans of all wars” The Memorial Cross is mounted on a gray rectangular slab of the same stone, and rests on a concrete pad. The Memorial Pool was closed in 1997 due to maintenance and safety issues. The facility was renovated, at a cost of some $1.5 million, was reopened on July 17, 1999 and currently functions as an Aquatic Center. Much of the front entry, including the three-tier front façade and the tall center support pillar have been retained, and the front façade now serves as a stairway to the upper-deck large water slides. The original bronze dedicatory plaque remains in its original position as well. Additions to the renovated structure include 5 water slides, including a large slide beginning from the top tier to the pool, diving board, swimming lanes, wading pool, and an adjacent “splash pad” with multiple kiddie features. Other Park areas for volleyball, and sand play have been established. A bath house with lockers and showers are also available. The two memorial markers are currently located on Memorial Park grounds adjacent to (west of) the Aquatic Center, although outside the chain link fence which defines the facility. (Note: Cushing is a city in southeastern Payne County, in north-central Oklahoma, with a population of 7,796 in 2016. It is some 70 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and is nicknamed “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World,” as it is one of the largest crude oil storage locations in North America.)