RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Big changes are coming to Chavis Park in Raleigh. The city hosted an open house on Thursday, outlining new projects and initiatives happening in the area, including the construction of a large aquatic center at the park.

“Chavis has historically had a pool, so this is bringing back a pool to the park,” said Stephen Bentley, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources for the city.

It won’t just be a pool. A grassy area near the track and community center will be transformed into the facility, “With lap swimming and hopefully slides and lazy river for the community to enjoy,” Bentley explained.

Design work is already underway.

“Obviously you have people utilizing the park already, oh it’s going to be great,” said Jason Mulligan, who visited the park on Thursday.

Mulligan recently moved to the Triangle, and as a triathlete, is excited about what an aquatic center will bring to the area, “It’ll get people in the pool, first of all, that have never been around the pool before. The availability for pools in this area and aquatic centers aren’t really available for people.”

It will also bring a valuable resource to those living around Chavis, all within walking distance.

“We always try to create parks and facilities that are walk-to, so the communities in the South Park neighborhood, the Chavis Heights neighborhood now have a pool to walk to versus driving to one, whether it be over at Longview or Biltmore,” said Bentley.

The city hopes construction can begin within the next few years.