Corvallis outlines $5.9 million in repairs and an $800,000 gap needed to reopen Osborne Aquatic Center

Corvallis Parks and Recreation Director Meredith Pettit and Kim Patton, director of operations for the Corvallis School District, said a facility assessment shows the Osborne Aquatic Center requires about $5.9 million in immediate repairs to reopen the indoor natatorium.

The finding came in a recorded slide presentation released ahead of a community meeting scheduled for Sept. 29, 2025, at Linus Pauling Middle School. Pettit and Patton framed the work as urgent after routine maintenance last year uncovered rust and corrosion in the natatorium ceiling; the city closed the facility "out of an abundance of caution" and engaged structural engineers and building-envelope specialists.

The repairs listed as Priority 1 include complete roof replacement and structural repairs, replacement of the 50-meter pool liner and bulkhead, removal and replacement of two rooftop air-handling units that have passed their useful life, reinstallation or replacement of ductwork and lighting taken down for scaffolding, and safety upgrades such as compliant drain covers. "Priority 1 repairs are immediate needs. We cannot open the pool without doing these repairs," a presenter said.

The city and district said they have identified $5,130,000 toward those immediate costs: a $4,100,000 legislative earmark secured with support from "senator Gelser Blueen" (as spoken in the presentation), $500,000 from the school district, $500,000 from the City of Corvallis, and at least $30,000 pledged by the Corvallis aquatic team. That total leaves an estimated funding gap of about $800,000 to meet the $5.9 million Priority 1 price tag.

Officials also described longer-term needs. Priority 2 work — items expected within the next 10 years such as filtration upgrades, ADA improvements, replacement or refurbishment of Otter Beach play features and electrical updates — was estimated at about $3.2 million, bringing the Priority 1+2 total to roughly $9 million. Priority 3 items, counted over a 10–20 year horizon, were estimated at $10.6 million; combined need over 20 years approaches $20 million.

Pettit provided use and budget context: the center operates year-round, hosted more than 11,000 registrations for water-safety lessons and roughly 11,000 participants in fitness and therapy classes in fiscal 2023–24, recorded over 100,000 total participations across programs, and operated with an annual facility budget near $2 million and about $900,000 in revenues for that fiscal year. The facility also receives a proportional allocation from the local option levy, reported at nearly $400,000 in 2023–24. Staffing includes five full-time positions and up to about 200 part-time and seasonal employees at peak.

City and district officials said structural shoring was installed in November to permit inspections, and that a building-envelope repair manual from Construction Science Forensics was delivered in May 2025. The Corvallis School District hired Scott Edwards Architects and other specialty consultants for a full facilities condition assessment to clarify both immediate and longer-range needs.

Officials estimated Priority 1 construction could take about 10 to 18 months depending on funding availability, final scope and phasing, and contractor schedule — but they said a contractor cannot be hired until funding is secured. The district is preparing a design and bid package that will phase work as line items to allow flexibility during bidding.

While indoor operations remain limited, Pettit said Parks and Recreation will continue to operate outdoor elements as safely as possible, including the outdoor lap pool where feasible, and will coordinate with neighboring facilities and swim teams to accommodate programming during the construction period.

Officials urged community input via an online survey and invited residents to the Sept. 29 community meeting, where informational boards will be available and posted online alongside the recording. The agencies said they are committed to moving the project forward but reiterated that formal bidding and construction cannot begin until full funding for bid-ready priority work is identified.