PASCO, Wash. – Construction is underway for the new $40.4 million Pasco Aquatics Center in the Broadmoor area. The center is set to become a community hub with its indoor and outdoor attractions.
Matt Watkins, with the Pasco Public Facilities District, shared that a significant feature of the facility is already in place.
“We’re doing what’s called a sire wall, and it’s meant to represent the little bit of the geology and the colors of the Tri-Cities,” Watkins said. “And what you see in the background, the big tall walls, is the natatorium and that’s the year-round aquatics facility.”
The project spans 47,000 square feet, featuring lazy rivers, water slides, an outdoor activity pool with a climbing wall, an indoor/outdoor hot tub, locker rooms and more. While outdoor amenities will operate seasonally, the indoor facility will remain open all year.
Watkins explained that they are using a “design-build process” to save costs during construction.
“With those extra funds that we’ve saved. It’ll still be the $40.4 million, but it’ll be a little bit more than the original design,” Watkins said.
These savings have allowed the indoor facility to expand by 10 percent, with considerations for adding a ninja course or a third slide.
Safety and accessibility have been priorities in the design process. Originally, a centralized wave pool was planned as a standout feature, but it was removed from the final plans.
“We looked at a one in Missouri and there were some design issues. What was cool for a 14-year-old was going to be risky for riskier for a seven-year-old,” Watkins said. “We’re going to end up doing two lazy rivers and an indoor year-round one, and then a larger external one.”
Watkins said the project remains on track to open by May 25, 2026, which is Memorial Day.
The aquatics facility will be located on the Broadmoor site at what will be Road 108 and Broadmoor.
In March 2025, the Pasco Public Facilities District Board of Directors unanimously adopted the “guaranteed maximum price” for the aquatics facility. That means a contractor agrees to complete a project for a price that does not exceed a predetermined maximum cost. The contractor would be responsible for any additional spending if they go over the set cost of $40.4 million.
Pasco voters approved the 0.2% sales tax measure in 2022 to fund, build, and operate this facility in April of 2022.
