PASCO, Wash. – As the Pasco Public Facilities District (PPFD) moves forward with the construction of a new aquatic facility, the City Council is deliberating on management and operational responsibilities.
Matt Watkins, Executive Director of the PPFD, presented an update on the Pasco Aquatics Center project during the council’s September 22 workshop meeting.
Watkins said the facility is currently under construction in Broadmoor with completion expected by the second quarter of 2026. Watkins also discussed potential management options for the facility, emphasizing a partnership with the City of Pasco.
Several benefits to having the city manage the facility were identified. These include shared staffing to reduce costs, combined programming to avoid duplication and centralized operations to minimize community confusion.
According to the presentation, the facility is expected to be financially self-sustaining. Two financial feasibility studies conducted by Ballard King and Associates and FCS confirmed that the aquatic center can cover its operating expenses through admissions, programming and projected sales tax revenues.
The City Council may decide whether to approve the partnership by the end of 2025. If rejected, the PPFD Board will need to explore alternative management options.
