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District explains why Sisters lacks a community pool: land, operating costs and workforce
Summary
SPRD staff said the district does not own land suitable for a pool, its operating subsidy needs and limited tax base make a pool financially risky, and staffing (lifeguards) is a recurring constraint; prior estimates put outdoor seasonal pools at $10–$12 million and indoor facilities at $20–$40+ million (excluding land and operations).
The Parks Advisory Board heard Jen of the Sisters Park and Recreation District explain why the town has not built a community pool. She emphasized three main hurdles: the district often manages parks on school-district-owned land (so it lacks land it controls for a multimillion-dollar facility), the ongoing operating subsidy for pools is substantial, and the district’s current tax base is too small to support both existing programs and the recurring costs of a pool.
Jen gave cost figures from prior outreach and planning: “for an outdoor seasonal pool... is 10 to $12,000,000” and “an indoor year round pool is 20 to 40 plus million dollars.” She said those numbers excluded land and operations and likely understate current prices, and noted the district would need to test community willingness to pay through polling before pursuing any bond, levy or capital campaign.
