2025 Pool Options Study

Help shape Hood River Aquatic Center’s next chapter!

Hood River Parks & Rec
is Hitting the Road

Join us for a pool concept workshop

Hood River Parks & Rec is continuing its study on the aging pool and potential next steps. In July, we hosted a Pool Open House that welcomed over 100 attendees who shared valuable input on what they appreciate about our current pool and what they believe is essential for a future facility.

Since then, our architects have been hard at work, using your feedback from the open house and online survey to develop three potential pool concepts for the current site:

  • Concept 1: Renovation of the existing pool with new locker rooms, offices, and lobby.

  • Concept 2: A full replacement using the same square footage as Concept 1, but with a new layout and updated features.

  • Concept 3: A full replacement with a slightly expanded facility and a different layout, designed to accommodate potential growth in community use and programming needs.

We’ll walk attendees through each concept, review some cost considerations, and do some ranking activities on the types of features that you might want to see in a future pool.

Your voice is essential in shaping a pool that reflects our community’s needs and dreams. We hope to see you there.

There will be an interactive online open house starting September 5, along with a survey to help us narrow down some features and cost considerations.

Overview

Last year’s bond and levy to fund a new facility did not pass. Since then, we’ve spent time actively listening to the community and learning from your feedback. What we heard loud and clear: the community wants transparency and involvement in the decision-making process. Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation has hired the architectural firm, Integrus to lead a comprehensive pool study. The scope of their work includes:

  • A full assessment of current pool conditions

  • Potential design and renovation options

  • A detailed cost analysis to help guide future decisions about Aquatic Center.

This study is designed to involve the community, promote transparency, and ensure that your voice helps shape what comes next.

Why Now?

The pool has served our community for decades — but many systems are outdated, failing, or costly to maintain. Recent issues include:

  • $50,000 in emergency HVAC repairs last fall, which delayed heating until November

  • Three of 22 tent panels recently failed beyond repair ($12,000 each)

  • Facility accessibility issues

  • Mechanical systems are nearing end-of-life

  • Leaks caused from old, rusty, & brittle piping

  • Out-dated locker rooms

Open House #1 Recap:

Thank you to everyone who participated!

On July 9, over 100 community members joined us for the first Pool Options Study Open House at the Hood River Aquatic Center. We’re so grateful to everyone who toured the facility, asked questions, and shared ideas about the future of aquatics in Hood River.

  • Interactive feedback stations

  • Presentations from architects and pool consultants

  • Behind-the-scenes facility tours (including the pump room)

  • Light refreshments

  • Community history of the Aquatic Center and HRVPRD