The Bowling Green City Pool and Waterpark has won first place in the Facility category by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, beating out larger cities such as Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.

Director of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Michelle Grigore said a major reason why the city was given the award is because of the community having five years of input in the new facility, designing it themselves and passing a levy to pay for the new pool, which opened this past summer.

“That was a huge support and a big reason why we got the award,” Grigore said. “Without their input and support that pool would’ve never have been built.”

Another factor contributing to the award given is how the new pool is now recreational to the public, where it was originally built as a traditional style pool in the 1960s. In the past the pool had lanes, but now people have a lazy river, shading, water toys for children and many more features that give people that entertaining feeling, she said.

“I think it adds a level of credibility to the facility for receiving the award,” Grigore said. “It’s a nice recognition of the facility. We were really pleased based on how people used the pool this year but this is just icing on the cake.”

The annual award is only given to new facilities and can’t be won more than once.