Washington Park Pool will close for the season on Sunday, August 14 and a renovation project will begin shortly after. The current pool will be removed to make way for a new facility. While this will be a large project, the Parks and Recreation Department hopes to keep the impact of the closure to a minimum, with a reopening as soon as possible.
The Washington Park Pool was originally built in the 1970s and the renovation is part of the Department’s Master Plan developed in 2019. In a 2021 study, Washington Park Pool was ranked highest in terms of citizen support for renovation out of all the Department’s recreation centers and pools. “The current facility is not only suffering from structural issues, but its design lacks modern features that could meet more of the community’s needs,” says Katie Slusher, Planning and Development Coordinator.
As part of this project, PLAY Roanoke is gathering feedback to be used in developing final designs. “The pool is well loved by the community, so we want to make sure we keep what folks love while adding and updating what we can to increase accessibility, comfort, and fun,” Slusher adds. The survey is designed to gauge which amenities or features are most important to the community (such as lap lanes, slides, splash/spray features, diving areas, and more).
The public survey is available at www.PlayRoanoke.com/PoolSurvey. Responses will be accepted through September 2.
In recognition of the Washington Park Pool’s impact over the years, a celebration is planned for the last day of the season, August 14. As part of Star City Safe, PLAY Roanoke will be hosting a Pool Party from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and offering $1 admission, giveaways, entertainment, and refreshments. Parks and Recreation staff will also be available throughout to assist attendees completing the survey.
For media inquiries, please contact Molly Hagan, Roanoke Parks and Recreation Marketing Coordinator, at Molly.Hagan@RoanokeVA.gov or 540-853-5573.
