How to beat the lines at the new Pasco Aquatic Center. Take a look inside
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Attend Friday’s open house to register accounts and buy season passes early.
- The center opens June 27 with a 225-person max occupancy indoors.
- Pasco residents receive a 15–25% discount; 2026 pass prices are listed.
If you want to guarantee your family can get the most out of season passes to the new Pasco Aquatic Center, Friday is the day to get in line to sign up.
The aquatic center plans a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 12, at 5204 Road 108.
Attendees should keep in mind that the Sandifur Parkway extension into the Broadmoor Development opens this week, but Harris Road is now closed at Road 100.
Families can tour the facility, learn more about programming and begin reserving party rooms, but swimming won’t be available until the official opening on June 27.
Account registration opens on Friday and passes go on sale during the event, with those attending in person getting a head start. Online registration opens later that evening at SwimPasco.com.
Lifeguard staff have been training at Pasco’s Memorial Pool and will move into the center later this week after Bouten Construction wraps up the building’s finishing touches.
Construction of the center is paid for by a special 0.2% sales tax in Pasco passed by voters in 2022.
Reservations and activities
Aquatic Center Manager Tony Tuck said families will want to sign up and check availability before they head to the center this summer.
“We’re really anticipating such a popularity and a demand that individuals will have to form accounts to do reservations to ensure they have a spot to swim,” he said.
That starts with creating an account, whether you buy a season pass or just want to go for the day. Then you can reserve space for your family online to guarantee you can get in.
With a max occupancy of 225 people inside, open swim blocks will fill up quickly. Annual passes also will be available.
“What’s going to be crucial is that you reserve your space in advance,” he said.
Tuck said they’ve also had families reaching out about reserving party rooms. There are two family rooms, plus a larger conference room available for party rentals. Cabanas outside are also available to rent. Umbrellas are free to use but are first come, first served.
Amenities
The Aquatic Center will open this month with fun activities for the entire family.
Inside swimmers will find a kids water play area and a lap pool with a full Ninja Course suspended above it. Next to that is a lazy river that starts with interconnected hot tubs, one inside and one outside.
The main attraction is a tower with two giant slides that will be available year round.
Tuck said the interior is equipped with “Disney-level” lights and speakers to up the entertainment.
There are locker rooms and changing stalls available as well.
Outside families can enjoy another lazy river, a huge splash pad with its own playground, a water basketball court and a rock climbing wall. There’s also a third, smaller slide that plunges into a pool.
Parents can lounge under umbrellas or in nearby cabanas. There are also concession stands outside, with space for food trucks.
The outdoor area will be seasonal, open for the summer months.
That’s just phase 1 of the center. Eventually the Pasco Public Facilities District will add even more amenities.
As the center moves toward expansion in phase 2, they’ll also add volleyball and kickball courts alongside more outdoor swimming. They’re already working on plans for a second slide tower to open in time for summer 2027.
An outdoor competition pool will be the biggest draw in the second phase.
Aquatic Center programs
The Aquatic Center isn’t even open yet, but staff already have a range of plans and programs they want to offer.
The center plans to have exercise programming available every morning, as well as a lap swim. There will also be sensory-friendly time set aside for families with children who have special needs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Tuck is excited to lean into the community aspect of the publicly funded center. As they move past the first summer, the center will begin creating opportunities for day camps during school breaks, field trips, movie nights and more.
He said they’re already planning some Shark Week programming, as well as a Ninja Course championship. A Juniper Games laugh Olympics could start as early as next year. The name is for the center’s mascot, an otter named Juniper.
He’s hoping to partner with STEM teachers for cardboard boat regattas, chemistry lessons and more. Teachers interested in coming up with program ideas should reach out by email at tuckt@pasco-wa.gov.
He also wants to encourage community members to share their ideas with staff, if families think there are missed opportunities for amenities, programs or anything else.
Aquatic Center hours
General hours Monday through Friday will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, with lap swim and open swim times carved out.
Lap swim and programming runs from opening until 10:45 a.m. daily. Those morning hours will be 50% of the regular rate.
The first open swim block will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the second 4-8 p.m.
How will aquatic center tickets work?
This year’s passes will be about 25% cheaper to reflect the delay in opening.
Families will be able to buy individual tickets, summer passes or year-round packages.
Since the tax was passed Pasco families have wondered if they’ll get a discount as the primary funders of the center, and now they have an answer. The summer passes are based on a breakeven point of one visit per week for each of the designated 14 weeks of summer.
Family passes are based on a family of two adults and three children. More family members can be added to the passes for an additional fee per person.
The Pasco resident discount ranges from 15% to 25% depending on the type of ticket. There will not be a daily rate for families, in order to encourage them to buy summer and annual passes.
Residency will be determined by whether someone lives in the city’s Urban Growth Area, which includes the “donut holes” within the city and many of the newer subdivisions norths of Burns Road that aren’t yet within city boundaries. Staff will be able to verify during check-in and account creation.
Youth are considered ages 4 to 17, and seniors are 65+.
Here’s how much each group will pay:
Pasco residents
Daily rates: $10 for youth tickets, $9 for seniors and $12 for adults.
2026 Summer passes: $105 for youth summer passes, $95 for seniors, $126 for adults and $199 for families
2027 Summer passes: $140 for youth summer passes, $126 for seniors, $168 for adults and $265 for families
Annual passes: $280 for youth and seniors, $375 for adults and $750 for families.
Non-Pasco residents
Daily rates: $13 for youth tickets, $11 for seniors and $15 for adults.
2026 Summer passes: $126 for youth summer passes, $114 for seniors, $158 for adults and $229 for families
2027 Summer passes: $168 for youth summer passes, $152 for seniors, $210 for adults and $305 for families
Annual passes: $350 for youth and seniors, $469 for adults and $938 for families.
Activity rooms
The two activity rooms will be available to rent for $300. Groups of up to 15 will get the room for 1-hour, plus the entry fee for open swim time for each person. Additional party members will need to pay the regular daily rate. The larger, premium activity room will be $400 for a 1-hour reservation.
The entire facility can be rented for an hourly rate plus staff costs at $900 per hour plus staff costs for indoor and outdoor, or indoor or outdoor only for $500 per hour plus staff
Cabana rentals will be reserved by session at $100 for four hours.
