Boise residents can weigh in on the future of two of the City of Boise’s outdoor pools, the historic duo of South Pool, located on the Boise Bench next to South Junior High School, and Lowell Pool, located in the North End next to Lowell Elementary School, opened during the summer of 1953. Online surveys are now live with the goal of gathering community input on how the city should address the two aging facilities.
Both above-ground pools were designed by engineer Wesley Bintz of Lansing, Michigan and constructed by Jordan and Sons of Boise. They feature matching entrances with unique Art Deco/Art Moderne design elements. The pools are accessed via a stairway from the locker room and restroom area below. South and Lowell Pools each feature a pool deck, diving board, a shallow end starting at three feet deep and a deep end that is 12 feet deep. Additional background on the pools, historic photos and more are available on the city’s website.
The two pools closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. The City of Boise contracted with local architecture firm Cushing Terrell to conduct on-site evaluations of both South and Lowell Pools during this time. An ADA analysis was also performed separately by Tindale Oliver, a national expert on addressing accessibility. Both assessments outline a variety of deficiencies with the pools and recommend significant steps to bring the facilities up to safety and accessibility standards. Additional structural assessments completed in February 2022 found the pool structures are in fair overall condition. All finalized reports completed to date are available online.
The pools remain closed as next steps are determined. “Both of these pools need extensive updates and repairs to safely reopen to the public,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway. “We recognize the historic significance of these structures and want to hear from community members so we can better understand how residents would like these two recreation facilities to function into the future.”
Community members can take the South and Lowell Pool surveys until Monday, March 28 at 5 p.m.
Contact: Parks and Recreation Media Relations (208) 608-7600 | bpr@cityofboise.org