Parks and Recreation prioritizes fitness-center expansion; pool nearing end of life raises future choices

Josh Hagers, Clinton’s Parks and Recreation director, told the CIP committee the department’s top ranked long-term need is an indoor sports facility but that the FY27, revenue-supporting priority is expanding the Erickson Community Center fitness area.

Hagers said membership units have more than doubled since 2021 (from about 417 units in 2022 to over 861 units in 2025) and revenue has increased; the fitness expansion is expected to recoup its cost over time. "That equipment paid for itself... we anticipated three years; it paid off in about one year," he said.

On the pool, Hagers and other speakers described the 100‑year‑old outdoor facility as failing: mechanical parts are old, piping and concrete show deterioration, and the southeast corner is settling. Hagers said the pool likely has a five-year window before major replacement is unavoidable and recommended the city explore retrofit options rather than immediately building a new pool to avoid being without a pool for multiple seasons.

The splash pad discussion: because the pool and other priorities create competing demands, the splash pad was deferred to a later year and staff suggested investigating a stand-alone splash pad site so the community would have an amenity if the pool is out of service.

Why it matters: an expanding fitness center would serve growing participation and generate revenue, while the pool’s deterioration presents a multi-million-dollar future bill and a choice between renovation or replacement.

Next steps: Parks staff will refine cost estimates for the fitness expansion and present pool-condition options to the new council for policy direction.