Amarillo’s Parks and Recreation Department (P&R) has spent the past several months evaluating the long-term viability of the city’s aging public pools—and the findings presented to the Amarillo City Council this week signal difficult decisions ahead. After an internal aquatic viability study, department leaders concluded that repairing the Southwest and Southeast pools could cost upwards of $1 million, not including additional maintenance and structural needs.
A Closer Look at Decades-Old Infrastructure
During Tuesday’s council meeting, P&R Director Michael Kashuba summarized the work his team performed after being asked in August to conduct an internal evaluation rather than immediately hire an outside consultant. According to Kashuba, the team “conducted on-site reviews, captured detailed photographs and provided some investigative findings about the pool’s structural, mechanical, and operational foundations.”
He emphasized that many of the city’s pools are now “50 and 60 years old,” making it increasingly important to understand their underlying conditions before planning for upgrades or replacements.
Over the past two years, the P&R board has discussed whether the Southeast and Southwest pools can remain sustainable. Structural challenges, repeated vandalism, ongoing maintenance demands, and low cost recovery all contribute to the concern. As Kashuba noted, “the challenge with those two pools is that they’re significantly lower than cost recovery.”
Attendance and Revenue Realities
At a P&R board meeting in November, Assistant Director Becki Dryer shared that in 2024, Southwest generated $51,000 with 9,700 attendees, while Southeast brought in $63,000 with 10,400 attendees. For comparison, Thompson Park generated $241,000 with 31,000 attendees. These figures illustrate the financial gap between the city’s older pools and the more heavily used Thompson Park facility.
Leaks, Cracks, and Temporary Fixes
Compounding the financial concerns are growing maintenance issues. In April, staff discovered a leak beneath the Southwest pool, and another “very significant leak” appeared in May. Repairs were made just before summer, but Kashuba described that work as “a very temporary patch” rather than a viable long-term solution. Additional motor repairs followed in June.
The Southeast pool, originally built in 1965 and renovated in 1987, has also required periodic upgrades. P&R Park Superintendent Brad Nalley noted that while recent improvements were made—such as plumbing fixtures, flooring, and ceiling repairs—persistent structural issues remain. He documented cracks in the pool and described a hole under the Southwest pool’s diving board, linked to an underlying design flaw that had been patched over time.
Nalley made the stakes clear in a November board meeting: “We have to address Southwest if we’re going to open it, because we know we have a cavern behind the wall, and we have a leak that we haven’t done any kind of investigation on that yet, but if we’re going to reopen, it has to be addressed.”
Costs: Repairs vs. Replacement
During Tuesday’s meeting, Kashuba estimated that replastering each pool would cost around $450,000. Nalley later estimated equipment upgrades at $325,000. Even then, both emphasized that such investments would not resolve the deeper structural problems.
Faced with these realities, the P&R board debated whether temporary repairs could allow the pools to open for a final season in 2026. Ultimately, they concluded that the expense—and likely risk of mid-season shutdowns—made that option impractical. Board member Shelby Massey captured the difficulty of the decision, saying, “We should just close both of them… I don’t love that for our citizens because I do think we need it for swim lessons and for quality of life, but… it’s a tough decision.”
The board voted 8–1 to recommend closure of the two pools and unanimously encouraged the City Council to explore building a new indoor or outdoor facility. Kashuba highlighted that replacing the Thompson Park pool previously cost between $7 and $8 million, and estimated that constructing a new pool today could run $12 to $15 million.
For some on the board, a new indoor facility would be the ideal long-term solution. As Board Chair Tiffany Podzemny expressed, her vision is to close the two aging pools and build an indoor replacement that could operate year-round and potentially be leased for community use.
What Comes Next?
Mayor Cole Stanley asked whether P&R would be open to working with a consultant to explore all available options. Kashuba indicated the department would be interested, though he also expressed a preference for moving toward a decision by January so that the department can begin hiring summer aquatic staff.
P&R plans to present the closure of the Southeast and Southwest pools as an action item at the next City Council meeting. With millions potentially at stake and community services in the balance, Amarillo’s leaders will soon determine whether to invest in costly repairs, pursue new construction, or take another path forward.
