While it's unrecognizable now, in seven months Kimbro Pool, located in McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center, will be transformed into a multi-million dollar facility.

Construction is well under way for the popular swimming pool on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Since Aquatics Coordinator Bill Miller has been on post he has seen the pool go through minor upgrades, but this renovation is the first complete overhaul since Kimbro was built in 1947.

Kimbro closed Oct. 31 for a 10-month overhaul and construction is right on time.

"A bomb wouldn't do as much damage," said Miller of how Kimbro looks today. "It's amazing how much they've done to the building."

Just about the entire pool floor has been ripped out and the fill has been replaced. Wall coverings were torn down unearthing "No Smoking" and "No Running" painted signs on the brick walls original to the building.

The brick walls are just about all that will remain during the construction, but they will be covered with new wall coverings.

The demolition phase of getting Kimbro down to its bare bones is about 90 percent done.

"‘Demo' is almost done and we'll start putting it back together," said Jim Pritchett, project superintendent of Cherokee General.

When Kimbro re-opens its doors in September it will look nothing like it used to. The oversized pool will give way to two pools: one will be a standard high school pool for lap swim and the other side will be a zero depth kids pool. The kids pool will also have a scaled-down version of the outdoor splash park, complete with fountains, a frog slide and sea animal toys that squirt water. Mosaic tiles of sea animals will also dress up the pool.

From the roof to the fire alarms, everything in the pool will be upgraded. The water slide at Kimbro is also being refurbished.

Since Kimbro closed all of the swim programs were dispersed between Keeler Pool and Soldiers Field House Pool. For a complete pool schedule visit www.jblmmwr.com/pools.html

Photo: Kimbro Pool closed Oct. 10 in preparation for a 10-month long renovation project. It’s the facility’s first complete overhaul since it opened in 1947. Scott Hansen/JBLM PAO