Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
The end of an era and the beginning of another. The 100-year-old Waitsburg Municipal Pool was filled by Don Jackson Excavation, LLC from Milton-Freewater this week. The Waitsburg Parks & Rec, Friends of the Pool, volunteers, and donors are working to build a new public pool and facility for Waitsburg.
The proposed location for the new city pool.
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District received the hydraulics flood study from Ardurra Group, Inc., confirming the viability of the proposed pool site on the north side of the Touchet River.
A previous study by PBS Engineering and Environmental indicated a high probability the site could be used. The study in March by Ardurra confirmed the viability of the proposed design and construction for a new Waitsburg community pool based on an updated survey and detailed 2D modeling of the Touchet River.
The news comes as the city prepares to fill the city's 100-year-old pool across from Preston Park. The pool was decommissioned in 2022 due to structural damage. An architectural assessment determined the pool's structure, plumbing, and outbuildings had far exceeded their life expectancy and could not be repaired.
The empty pool will be filled the week of May 5, as required by the health department.
"The district is sharing happy memories from the former pool location - decades of swimming lessons, children's laughter, and quality family time, and we are excited to continue making progress on building a new pool at the north site that will serve our community for generations to come," said Bart Baxter, chairman of the district. "The location is still close to downtown, accessible with sidewalks via Main Street, already has power and water, and is a bigger site, allowing the district to add more elbow room and amenities. In the coming months, the district will have more to share as we obtain specific cost estimates, images, and flood plain and FEMA paperwork."
Waitsburg Parks and Recreation, a junior taxing district of Walla Walla County, in partnership with the Friends of the Waitsburg Pool, Rural Youth Enrichment Services, City of Waitsburg, Waitsburg Commercial Club, and the Walla Walla YMCA, and energetic volunteers are tackling this 5-year project. The Friends of the Pool has privately raised over $90,000 for the project.
An assessment by PBS determined that the construction cost for the proposed pool would be between $1.7 million and $2.4 million. This estimate does not include the bathhouse, mechanical room, and landscaping.
With the hydraulics flood study checked off the list, the district hopes to share official designs for the new pool in the coming weeks.
Donations to the pool project can be made at the Rural Youth Enrichment Services website at ruralyes.org. Donation checks can be written to Friends of the Pool/R.Y.E.S. and mailed to RYES at PO Box 371, Waitsburg, WA 99361. Questions, comments, or volunteers can go to info@waitsburgparks.org.
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