Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) —  Orange Beach is moving forward with plans to expand and renovate its Aquatics Center. The City Council approved up to $274,000 for construction oversight. The contract covers the project's first phase. Plans include a larger leisure pool, additional building space, and updated pool decks.

The council approved the task order at its November 3, 2026, meeting. The agreement is with Lose of Tennessee, PLLC, the firm responsible for designing the improvements. The $274,000 is for managing construction work, not for building the new facilities.

The first phase includes a second, larger leisure pool, a new pump house with meeting rooms, and additional pool decks. A design-stage estimate places construction costs for this phase at $7,240,375. That figure is an estimate, not a final construction contract.

Under the new agreement, Lose will help oversee the contractor's work. Its duties include reviewing payment requests, reviewing materials submitted for approval, and helping manage changes during construction. The firm will also inspect the project near completion and identify any remaining work.

The contract provides $247,000 in fixed fees and an estimated $27,000 for reimbursable expenses, for a total maximum authorized payment of $274,000.

The firm's proposal calls for a pre-construction meeting and 12 site visits over an expected nine-month construction period. A separate agreement would be required to oversee the second phase. The current cost estimate assumes construction could begin in April 2027, but that start date is not confirmed.

The second phase calls for removing the existing pool and constructing a replacement lap pool. Plans also include renovations to the current pump house and pool house, along with new pool decks. The estimated construction cost is $4,185,956.

The two phases are part of a broader effort to improve a public swimming facility that has served Orange Beach for more than two decades. The Aquatics Center at 4853 Wilson Boulevard opened in May 2002.

The center currently has a heated 25-yard outdoor pool, a diving well, a tube slide, and a seasonal children's wading pool. It offers swimming lessons, water aerobics, and other programs for people of all ages and swimming abilities.

Planning for the renovation began before the latest contract. In April 2025, the city hired Lose Design to lead initial renovation and expansion planning. In February 2026, the council approved up to $781,700 for the firm to design the expansion.

The construction estimates do not include all possible project expenses. Design fees, furniture, equipment, audiovisual systems, and any removal of hazardous materials are excluded from the estimates. The council packet also did not identify a funding source for construction.

The approval advances the project through planning, but several steps remain before the expanded facilities are ready for public use. Final construction costs, the building schedule, and any effect on current Aquatics Center operations have not yet been announced.