The city of North Port this weekend will celebrate the start of construction for the new North Port Aquatic Center at Butler Park.
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
The aquatic center will include a 25-yard stretch pool, a lazy river, a kids activity pool, two slides, shade structures, a restroom and concessions. The pool will be built in an area that encompasses the existing playground, which will be moved to another area of the park.
Construction is expected to take about a year.