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Council approves contractor to begin Malvern Hills Pool design; community pushes faster reopening
Summary
The Asheville City Council approved a consent-agenda item to authorize a contractor to begin design work for rebuilding Malvern Hills Pool. Residents urged a faster schedule and retention of the pool’s current footprint and deep end; the design phase will include public engagement.
The Asheville City Council on May 27 approved a consent-agenda item to authorize a contractor to begin the design phase for rebuilding Malvern Hills Pool, a city parks official said.
Council action begins the formal design process, which staff said will include community feedback on features and accessibility. The design work is the first required step before construction contracting or schedule commitments can be made.
Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt told council the agenda item seeks approval of a contractor so the city can move into design and that the design will be informed by community input about how people used the pool in the past. He said the existing pool house — a roughly 90‑year‑old facility — must be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that one option is to refurbish the current building to meet accessibility standards.
Residents who spoke during the public comment period urged a faster rebuilding timeline and said they want the pool rebuilt in its current footprint with a deep end and diving board. Sally Grow, speaking for community supporters, read survey responses that repeatedly asked to “keep the existing pool footprint,” keep a deep end and maintain low user fees. She requested a reopening date of June 1, 2027, and urged the council and staff to shorten the design phase from the timeline described by speakers.
Council members and staff did not set a construction start date at the hearing. Staff said design would begin in summer 2025, with design wrapping in mid‑2026 and construction beginning in summer 2026 under the anticipated schedule presented by community members; staff also reiterated that final timelines depend on design, permitting and funding. The consent agenda motion that included the contractor approval passed without recorded opposition.
Councilors and staff said they expect the design process to include public meetings and surveys that will shape final scope, and that future budget actions or amendments would be required before construction contracts are awarded.
Community advocates said they prefer a modest, community‑oriented rebuild rather than a larger amenity center, and that retaining simple features such as the diving board and a deep end is important to longtime users. Staff noted the pool house will require ADA upgrades and that the design process will determine whether to renovate or replace portions of the existing structure.
