Why all the construction at Tri-Cities largest public pool and will it open this summer?
Soon Tri-Cities swimmers will be able to dip, dive and splash in Pasco’s Memorial Pool beyond the hot summer months.
The lap pool will open for 10-11 months out of the year once the city adds a $750,000 heavy-duty fabric bubble cover this fall.
Crews from Walla Walla-based ESF Solutions have demolished the pool deck, and are now building a new foundation and deck where the bubble cover will connect.
The pool will become a new indoor option for residents and competitive teams, while the Pasco Aquatic Center is being completed.
In the fall and winter, the pool will be used by Pasco School District’s high school varsity swim teams and other swim clubs for practices and competitions. There are also plans for year-round open swim, swim lessons, lifeguard classes and other programs like scuba.
Lifeguard training and swim team practices start in early May and the pool opens to the public in June.
City staff told the Tri-City Herald that the pool is on track to open as planned this summer.
The smaller pool and two slides at Memorial Aquatic Center are not part of the project.
Pool construction
The pool bubble cover is part of a $1.5 million project to improve the Pasco facility. The pool house will get a new roof, insulation, and heating and cooling.
When installed, the bubble dome will tower 38-feet tall, run 113-feet wide and 200-feet long.
Air inside the dome gets circulated through vents. It also features a skylight.
Leading up to colder months, the cover gets inflated and attaches to the foundation. Before summer, it’s deflated and removed.
There will be short closures — up to two weeks — each fall and spring to prepare the cover for the next season. The city will also complete maintenance during closures.
The project has been in the works for seven years. In 2018, the city began discussions with the school district about the possibility of purchasing a cover for year-round use by high school teams.
It’s been delayed by funding challenges, COVID-19 and supply chain issues.
This story was originally published April 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
