Another indoor pool in Tri-Cities? Pasco proposes Memorial Pool dome for year-round use
Pasco city government and the school district want to buy a dome for Memorial Aquatic Park to turn its lap pool into a year-round facility.
The park’s 50-meter lap pool at 1520 West Shoshone Street does not currently support hosting high school swim meets, with the boys team needing to use an indoor facility in Kennewick.
A dome would fix that and allow the city to expand its program offerings beyond the regular open season, which runs May to November.
“With the pool bubble, the city will be able to offer year-round swim lessons, lifeguard training classes, and lap swim,” reads an agenda report in the Feb. 26 city council packet. “Expanding offerings is also a possibility through programs such as scuba lessons, water polo, paddleboard yoga, dive-in movies, etc.”
Indoor aquatic facilities are slim pickings in the Tri-Cities.
Pasco only has one other indoor pool, a 20-yard pool at Lifequest Fitness Center off Road 68. Kennewick and Richland each have a small outdoor pool and a few private indoor facilities.
Two years ago, Pasco voters approved a 0.2% sales tax to fund construction of a new $40 million, multi-phase aquatics facility and pool. Most of the west Pasco facility is expected to open next year, but its eight-lane, 25-meter competition pool will be added on after.
The Pasco City Council plans to discuss the dome project at its Monday workshop meeting. No action is expected to be taken until the following week.
Purchase of the dome would cost nearly $550,000. It would be covered by city bond funds, as well as a $100,000 contribution from the school district.
Placing and removing the structure for winter use every year would run the city an extra $15,000, as well as $25,000 in additional utility and chemical costs. But the city also plans to collect an additional $50,000 in annual revenue from admission and other fees as it expands its dates of operation.
When installed, the dome would tower 38-feet tall, run 113-feet wide and 200-feet long. It would cover a total 22,600 square feet.
The temporary structure, which would be installed September to May, would be made out of a special architectural fabric with a double-wall thermal lining, and could include sections for a skylight.
The materials would last 20 years and installation would also include an HVAC and heating system.
This dome project is a few years in the making.
In 2018, shortly after the Pasco School District formed their boys and girls swim teams, the city began discussions with the district about the possibility of purchasing a cover for year-round use.
The next year, the city included the project in its list of six-year capital improvement projects.
In 2023, the city bonded $1.5 million for the installation of the dome and bulkhead, as well as additional work to support the facility update.
