The District has been facing the possible closure of the Original Indoor Pool for many years.  Structural issues related to the building and pool built in 1966 have also led to safety and maintenance issues.  Concerns related to steel and concrete in the facility are a major factor.  The decision to close this pool was not made lightly. The Board of Trustee and staff have sought opinions from multiple structural engineering firms, contractors, risk and insurance providers, and had testing done including Ultrasonic and Ground Penetrating Radar on the steel and concrete. These professionals describe what is happening to the structure as experiencing a structural cancer that has been eating away and damaging the steel and concrete in the building for many, many years.  The Board respects the sentimental value and the great experiences that have been provided to our community through the years, but as a matter of safety, the decision has been made to close this portion of the facility.

In addition to the structural issues, there are very expensive components that would be needed to repair the pool/building which include the roof, HVAC, boiler, and electrical systems.  These are all very costly items and wouldn’t address the more obvious visible repairs needed such as remodeling, painting, and resurfacing.

The District did a Master Plan in 2019-2020 and the cost to rebuild the pool at that time was around $13 million dollars.  More recently we got an estimate of $26 million dollars to replace the pool which doesn’t include the daily operation and maintenance costs after construction.  That amount would require the District to bond to fund the projects. In the recent past, there have been two different bonds elections requesting funds to rebuild the pool. The voters within the district voted against the bonds both times.  The Board was not willing, nor did they feel it feasible, to attempt a $26 million dollar bond at this time because of the burden that would add to District residents.

There have been many discussions on how to continue to serve the community in a more fiscally responsible way.  The plan to cover one of our existing outdoor pools during the Fall, Winter and Spring will allow year-round use of an existing asset and the district will continue to offer the programming that have historically been offered in the Original Indoor Pool.  While we recognize that the pool is different and will be an adjustment, the District feels that it is the best solution.

Water fitness classes and Swim Lessons will now have several places they could happen.  Once the bubble is over the Outdoor Recreation Pool, the plan is for most of these programs to happen in that pool, although some may also occur in the Indoor Recreation Pool.  Open Plunge can be in either pool. Until the Bubble is constructed (construction anticipated to begin Fall of 2025), the Indoor Recreation pool will be used for these activities and schedules will be temporarily adjusted.  We appreciate everyone’s patience and willingness to share while these changes are made.

Kearns High swim team and PE swim class will use the 50 meter pool.

A bubble is an Air Supported Structure that covers an area to provide a temporary structure that allows use of the space without being affected by outdoor elements.  In our case, the bubble will cover the Outdoor Recreation Pool (see map) during the Fall, Winter and Spring seasons and will be taken down during the Summer months.  This allows year-round use of a pool that was previously only being used 3 months out of the year.  This pool is the perfect depth to run programs like water fitness, swim lessons and open plunge.

The bubble will be 33 yards further and we plan to connect the pools with a tunnel to keep patrons protected from the elements while going from one pool to the other.

All the pools will be heated using the range recommendations from the American Red Cross for the activities that will be happening in that particular pool.

The existing tennis/pickleball courts were built in 1968 and have similar issues to the original pool. The main safety concern is that they are made from asphalt which cracks easily. There have been multiple solutions that have been attempted to fix the courts over the years, and each has failed.  Because of the unsafe nature of the asphalt courts, the decision has had to be made to close the old courts.  The new courts will be post-tension concrete which is the current preferred standard to ensure long-term stability.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States.  It is also a popular sport here at the facility.  Pickleball participation has grown 311% over the last three years.  While the popularity of tennis has declined, installing a multi-use tennis court will allow us to continue to serve the tennis community.  Because the existing courts have often been vandalized and misused, the District has opted to build the new courts closer to the other buildings. This will allow us to restrict access to the courts to our members and paying guests, ensuring they stay in good condition for use.  This is also an ideal location for noise reduction to our neighbors since the courts will be further from any homes in the area.

The Board of Trustees for the Oquirrh Recreation and Parks District ultimately made the decision with input from professional firms, insurance providers, official studies, and more.

The public has been invited to participate throughout the years including statistically valid surveys, informal surveys, and open houses during the strategic planning process and master plan process that took place in 2019-2020.  The Board holds monthly meetings that are open to the public and invite any public comments.  The annual budget proposal meetings, including discussions surrounding capital projects include public forums which is another opportunity for the Board to hear comments from the public.

The Board has not taken this decision lightly as they have hired professionals including structural engineers, sought specialized testing on the concrete and steel, and consulted with risk and insurance providers, and more.

A large-scale locker room remodel is another project that was a part of the 2020 Master Plan.  We are hopeful that funding will be in place in the not-too-distant future.  New lockers with free locks were installed in 2025 which have been helpful for patrons to securely store their personal items.