Parks commission recommends against reopening county pool for 2026, authorizes grant application

The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended to the full county commission that the county not reopen the county pool for the 2026 season and authorized staff to apply for a local LPRF grant when the program opens in January.

Commission members made the recommendation after reviewing final operating figures attached to the meeting agenda and a multi‑part discussion of operating losses, site condition and capital cost estimates. Commission members said payroll (including certification bonuses), utility bills and water replacement were the primary drivers of higher operating costs for the most recent season.

Commission members said the season summary showed the pool operated about 75 days with 2,147 admissions recorded. Commissioners and staff calculated an operating cost of roughly $15.46 per person per day when parties and other pool revenues are included; admission prices were reported at $5–$6. The commission noted those per‑person operating costs exceed typical admission revenue and that attendance was concentrated across the open days.

Commissioners also discussed the site’s condition and the capital cost of rebuilding or relocating the pool. A participant…