PASCO, Wash. – After many delays due to funding challenges and supply chain issues, the Memorial Pool Dome Project in Pasco, initiated seven years ago, will become a reality this spring.
Council members unanimously approved and awarded a bid worth $757,944 to ESF Development, LLC from Walla Walla to equip the facility with a bubble cover for year-round use.
This addition will enable the pool to support activities such as Boys Varsity Swim teams and year-round swim lessons and public swimming.
“Before I got on the council, I was on the park board. We talked about this (project) then, and so it’s cool to see, seven years later, that it finally comes to fruition,” Council Member David Milne said during the council’s March 3 meeting. “Sometimes, things take a long time, but I’m glad to see it now come in, be used for East Pasco, glad to see it finally here.”
Funding for the project is supported by a combination of sources, including a $978,000 LTGO Bond, $100,000 from the Pasco School District, and $130,000 from the Real Estate Excise Tax 1 (REET1), totaling $1,208,700.
To complete the project, an additional $315,000 was needed. The council voted to address the shortfall with funds from the Park Development Fund. The Pasco School District has committed $100,000 and will pay monthly rent for swim team use, while community swim organizations plan to expand their programs once the facility is available year-round, according to last night’s city council agenda.
Construction will start soon with project completion slated for early May. The project will involve the demolition of the existing pool deck and the installation of a new deck, footing, and concrete pads for the bubble cover and mechanical equipment that will ensure proper drainage and minimize tripping hazards.
Improvements will include a removable bulkhead to divide the pool, allowing simultaneous events and increasing rental capacity. The project also involves upgrading the pool house with insulation, a new roof, and heating and cooling systems.
