Consultants find code, safety and mechanical failures at Jackson rec center; short-term fixes recommended

Consultants presenting an audit of the Jackson recreation center told the joint boards that the 1994 facility has multiple code and mechanical deficiencies that are disrupting operations and raising safety concerns.

"In addition, the leisure spool the leisure pool is leaking 3,000 gallons per day," consultant Garrett Waite said, summarizing the most pressing infrastructure issue. Waite listed code gaps (Teton Health District code, VGB, ADA), undersized and corroded suction piping, inadequate chemical storage in a poorly ventilated acid room, and an unexplained untreated water pit in the mechanical room. He said these items create both public-safety and staff-safety risks and have already led to shutdowns.

The consultants presented three cost tiers: immediate high-priority repairs estimated at about $300,000 to support 1–3 years of continued operation; a mid-range renovation limited to pool shells and mechanical systems at roughly $2.5 million with an estimated six-month shutdown; and a larger pool-and-building renovation or full replacement in the $20–27 million range with longer construction timelines. They emphasized that the mid- and long-term numbers are high-level estimates and that a feasibility study is needed to firm up scope and cost.

Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Florence confirmed staff support for short-term repairs while a feasibility study defines options for capacity and site alternatives. The boards directed staff to proceed with essential short-term repairs and to pursue long-term planning and a feasibility study.

The motion directing staff to begin the short-term repairs used an FY2027 allocation already identified in the capital plan; boards said they will return to budget specifics as the feasibility study and design work proceed.