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Marion staff outline Willowood Park pool replacement plan; open house, survey returned strong public engagement
Summary
City staff briefed the council on outreach and next steps for replacing Willowood Pool with a proposed aquatic center, reporting an open house, an 831-response survey and a timeline that includes a March 2025 draft plan and a July referendum draft.
City staff presented an update on plans to replace the aging Willowood Pool and redevelop Willowood Park at the Marion City Council work session on Jan. 21.
Parks staff said the existing pool was built in 1986 when Marion’s population was roughly 20,000 and that a 2021–22 feasibility study recommended a larger aquatic center on a new, roughly 24-acre site near 31st Street. The project team held a neighborhood open house on Jan. 13 with about 60–65 attendees and closed an online survey on Jan. 21 that drew 831 responses; staff said roughly one-third of respondents live within a half mile of the park.
Why it matters: Staff said Willowood Pool has infrastructure risks and that the city must decide how much to invest in repairs while planning construction of a replacement. The council will see draft park-redevelopment plans in March and operations projections in May before staff prepares draft referendum language in July.
Parks staff summarized survey and open-house themes as a desire to keep the site as a park with natural areas, trails and a splash pad; strong support for playgrounds, shade, inclusive design and rentable spaces; and concerns about sound mitigation for adjacent homes. The survey also frequently mentioned pickleball and improved crossings on 35th Street.
Next steps and timeline provided by staff include convening a steering committee; preparing a draft park plan in March 2025 and a public open house; bringing long-term operations and budget recommendations in May; selecting a construction manager at risk in April; and drafting bond referendum language in July. Staff said they will provide advance materials and an FAQ, and will use farmers-market outreach and pool tours to show residents existing facility conditions.
Council members asked whether the park will remain a park if the aquatic center is built; staff said that clarification will be part of outreach and messaging leading up to the referendum. Staff also described past infrastructure problems at the pool, including a major leak in 2018, and said the pool contains piping and equipment that require ongoing monitoring. Staff emphasized that repair thresholds will guide decisions about spending on the existing pool if the referendum fails.
There is no vote recorded on funding or bond language at this meeting; staff said they will return with recommended directional items and additional public engagement throughout 2025.
