Aquatic center fronting Sports Town in the works

An aquatic center is planned in front of the Betty & Bobby Allison Sports Town, project officials teased on Monday.

H Design Group LLC officials said in a Facebook post that Well Aquatic Center would span 70,000 square feet at Chestnut Expressway and Airport Boulevard in northwest Springfield.

"The Well isn't just a pool – it's a community landmark in the making," the post reads, indicating the development would have offerings for competitive and burgeoning swimmers. "The Well will also be a hub for innovative water therapy options, promoting holistic wellness for all ages and abilities."

On its Facebook page, Well Aquatic Center project manager Laura Gott said in a video post last week that The Well nonprofit is working to bring the development to fruition. She said the aquatic center would include platform diving options and assist local schools with their swimming programs. The Well was registered as a nonprofit with the Missouri secretary of state’s office last month by Gott, Bailey Gott and Rob Haik.

Laura Gott and Haik, H Design Group senior principal, could not be reached for comment by deadline.

Renderings provided in the Facebook post by H Design Group also show the potential for hotels, a restaurant, convenience store, coffee shop and outdoor entertainment in the outlots of the Betty & Bobby Allison Sports Town fronting Chestnut Expressway.

The $30 million Sports Town development opened in late 2022. The sports destination was planned by SGF Sports LLC through a partnership with Philcrest Properties and L5 Management & Consulting, according to past reporting.