From the backyard to the big cats: A pool builder expands his clientele

By Jenny Yu.  

Phoenix Zoo’s new big-cat pool combines habitat design and advanced pool engineering for safety and enrichment.  

In a unique blend of pool building and wildlife habitat design, the team at Overflow Pools recently completed a specially engineered water enclosure for big cats at Phoenix Zoo. The project, described in an AQUA Magazine article titled “No Kitty Pool: A Builder Tackles the Big Cats,” challenged the crew to rethink traditional pool design for a clientele far different from backyard swimmers. 

Dane Palmero, a veteran pool builder and founder of Overflow Pools, said he was initially intimidated by the project. He accepted the job after being contacted by a contractor with longstanding ties to the zoo. The design began as a landscape-architect draft but required major adaptations. Overflow Pools redesigned the layout to meet the demands of housing large predators rather than people. 

Safety and functionality were of utmost importance. The team concealed drain channels and return fittings so the cats wouldn’t injure themselves, lights were recessed to prevent chewing, the filtration system was unusually complex for the relatively small pool volume and even boulders were strategically placed so animals could enter and exit the water safely without blocking visitor sightlines. 

Despite these challenges, Dane and his team were able to accomplish a feline-friendly space. Since its ribbon-cutting in April, the new habitat has hosted big cats comfortably, offering an enriched environment that accommodates their swimming instincts and improves their overall welfare. Dane said the experience expanded his firm’s scope and that he would welcome similar projects in the future. 

Read the full article on the AQUA Magazine website to learn more!