The Columbia City Council on Monday approved an ordinance authorizing a $4 million renovation of the Albert Oakland Family Aquatic Center, the city's largest outdoor pool.

Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington told council the project focuses first on replacing aging mechanical and underground plumbing systems and fixing pool-shell cracking. The approved FY2026 funding package totals $4,000,000: $300,000 from park sales tax, $1,200,000 from the city's designated loan fund (a 10-year loan with roughly $140,000 annual payments charged back to parks sales-tax funding), and $2,500,000 from the city's capital project interest account.

The project will proceed in phases. Phase 1 includes a PVC pool liner to address shell cracking, a new deck-level stainless-steel gutter, replacement of underground plumbing, replacement of much of the concrete deck, installation of shade structures (officials proposed 10 shade structures of varying sizes), accessibility improvements including consideration of 0-entry areas and a new ADA pool lift, and replacement or refurbishment of water-play features. Phase 2 will address the bathhouse and the slide replacement. Huffington said staff will evaluate procurement and asked council for authority to use a design-build process or the city's traditional design-then-bid approach; the department used design-build on the Lake of the Woods pool project earlier and asked flexibility.

Huffington said the project is intended to avoid major interruption to the 2026 aquatic season; if construction forces a late opening, staff said it could reduce lifeguard recruitment and revenues. Huffington said full project completion is anticipated by 2027 and that parts of the mechanical work (electrical panels and some staff-led improvements) can be done before contractor mobilization.

Public input at the hearing was supportive; several speakers said they welcome shade and improved features. Council approved the ordinance on second reading.

Why this matters: Albert Oakland is a high-use recreational facility that averages about 24,000 patrons each summer. The renovation replaces aged infrastructure and prepares the facility for another multi-decade operating life while attempting to preserve the 2026 swim season.

Key project details

- Total project funding approved for FY2026: $4,000,000.
- Sources: $300,000 park sales tax; $1,200,000 designated loan fund (10-year loan); $2,500,000 capital project interest account (one-time allocation).
- Major work: PVC pool liner; new stainless-steel deck gutter; underground plumbing replacement; partial deck replacement; shade structures; potential 0-entry design; replacement/refurbishment of water play structures; new security cameras and PA system; new ADA lift and new diving boards where appropriate.
- Procurement: Council authorized staff to evaluate design-build procurement as an option.

Next steps

Parks and Recreation staff will proceed with procurement planning and detailed design; staff said it would work to minimize interruption to the 2026 season and will return to council with timeline updates as design and bidding proceed.