Reflecting Santa Rosa’s investment in enhancing public recreational spaces, the Finley Aquatic Center upgrades – totaling $5.3 million in construction – include a spray ground and splash pad, pool deck resurfacing, landscaping, a new mechanical room, and accessible features for residents of all ages. As part of its on-call contract, Kleinfelder provided construction management and inspection.

Record Rainfall and a Colorful Conundrum

During the construction phase, the site received record rainfall, making outdoor activities difficult in the oversaturated soil. With concrete resurfacing on the schedule, Kleinfelder’s construction managers needed to implement creative schedule management practices.

The splash pad and spray ground also feature colored concrete, mimicking the blue of ocean waves and the tan of beach sand. While these colorful details delight community members both young and old, choosing the right concrete for the application—as well as the color and consistency—required careful consideration.

Construction Phasing Solutions

Kleinfelder worked through several solutions to stabilize soil during the heavy rains. The successful solution included tackling interior activities during inclement weather, protecting soil with plastic sheeting during non-working hours, and employing more plastic sheeting to limit soil exposure during working hours. This flexibility of working inside when necessary and outside when practical allowed the project to stay on track for its scheduled opening.

Working with project stakeholders and community members, Kleinfelder standardized the concrete for this application, keeping the project’s colorful vision part of its successful reality.
The new water playground includes 15 interactive spray features, ranging from mild water fun to the Sky Soaker that delivers a whale-sized splash. Upgrades included replastering the main pool and pool deck, along with accessibility upgrades around the facility.

“… Kleinfelder has identified challenges well in advance, which provides ample time to consider multiple solutions…We are glad to have Kleinfelder on our team.” — Deziré, Associate Civil Engineer, City of Santa Rosa

Project Results

Finley Aquatic Center’s new spray ground and splash pad opened to a welcoming – and wet – community on June 16, 2025, with a “first splash” celebration. Thoughtful construction sequencing, pre-bid services, and stakeholder involvement from Kleinfelder’s construction management and inspection team kept this project on-track to deliver many summer seasons of fun.

Project Details

Location:
Santa Rosa, CA
Owner:
City of Santa Rosa