In Episode 2 of Star City Stories, Parks & Recreation Director Ryan Davis sits down with Operations Division Manager Darren Miller to take listeners inside the current phase of the community pool project. This episode focuses on where construction stands today, how timelines are shaped, and why planning for a 2026 opening must happen while construction is still underway.

Recorded shortly after a winter snowstorm, the conversation also highlights how weather and real-time conditions can affect construction schedules—and why impacts aren’t always immediately known. Ryan and Darren explain how the project team evaluates these situations, avoids speculation, and communicates transparently as information becomes available.

Listeners will learn how key milestones ahead impact the 2026 season, and that season depends on staffing, training, safety readiness, and inspections and how these items play such a critical role in determining how and when the facility opens. The episode wraps up with a look at what makes this project exciting. We hope this episode is a clear, honest snapshot of a complex project in motion—and a reminder that progress isn’t just what you see on the construction site, but also the planning happening behind the scenes.

In the premiere episode of Star City Stories, we introduce the purpose behind the podcast and take a big-picture look at one of the most significant community investments in recent decades: the new community pool.

This episode sets the stage for Season 1 by explaining why the pool project matters—not just as a facility, but as a long-term investment in quality of life, recreation, and community connection. Listeners will hear why Parks & Recreation chose a podcast as the platform to share this story, how feedback from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board shaped the idea, and why transparency and context are critical for a project of this scale.

We’ll discuss the community need the pool is designed to meet, the goals guiding the project, and why large public projects are often more complex than they appear from the outside. This episode is about framing the journey ahead—what listeners can expect from future episodes, how decisions are made, and how residents can better understand the “why” behind the work.

Whether you’re excited, curious, or simply looking for clear information, this episode invites you inside the conversation and sets the foundation for a season focused on understanding the process, challenges, and value of bringing a major community project to life.