BANGOR – When they heard that the low bid for the Beth Pancoe Aquatic Center to be located in Hayford Park exceeded available funding by $284,885, Stephen and Tabitha King donated an additional $250,000 toward the construction.

Since project bids were opened May 7, consultants and city staff have been exploring ways to reduce the cost of the project. Options included reducing the size of the pool by 525 square feet, changing the pool from a gunite system to cast-in-place concrete, and delaying the purchase of the water slide.

In making the additional donation, the Kings specified that the quality of the pool project not be compromised and that it be built as designed. The Kings said they were pleased with the progress of the pool complex to date and were eager to see the project completed.

With the new donation, the King’s have donated $1.4 million to the project.

The City Council finance committee will review the bid proposals and recommend a contractor for the project; the City Council will award the bid. It is anticipated that groundbreaking will take place in early June, with a mid-October completion date. The new aquatic center is expected to open June 2004.