The Amarillo City Council has reversed course on an earlier decision regarding the future of Southwest Pool, opting instead to pause its permanent closure and take a broader look at the city’s aging aquatic facilities. As a result, both Southwest Pool and Southeast Pool will be temporarily closed for the upcoming summer season while further evaluation is conducted.
Earlier this month, the council voted unanimously to permanently close Southwest Pool after city staff reported outdated equipment and deteriorating facilities. That decision drew public feedback from residents who expressed concern about the loss of neighborhood pools and the broader impact on quality of life in Amarillo. At Tuesday’s meeting, council members said those concerns warranted a second look.
The council ultimately voted to temporarily close both Southwest and Southeast pools and order an engineering study to assess the condition and viability of each facility. Councilmember Tim Reid said public input played a key role in reconsidering the earlier vote.
“It is a quality of life issue and I did hear enough from the public that said, you know, we really need to take another look at this as council and it doesn’t hurt us any,” Reid said. “And you know as I thought about it during the week, I was like, ‘why did we close one permanently and close the one temporarily and look at it. Why don’t we do the same for both?’”
The upcoming engineering study will evaluate each pool as a complete asset, including structural integrity, mechanical systems, and overall safety. The study will determine whether the pools can be repaired, what those repairs might cost, and whether continued investment is feasible. If the facilities are determined to be at or near the end of their usable life, the study will also inform discussions about possible replacements or alternative options for aquatic amenities in the community.
Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper said the temporary closures will allow the city to gather accurate information before making long-term decisions.
“We’re still going to close both of those pools temporarily so that we can take a look at that. And what the council wants to do now is go back and evaluate both of those facilities and see exactly what is there structurally, see what the possibilities would be to repair those, bring them back up to standards, or if there are some other ideas, as well as feasibility, and what we should do within our community,” Hooper said.
At this stage, council members have not set a specific timeline for the completion of the study. That responsibility will fall to the Parks and Recreation Board, which will work with city staff to outline next steps and scheduling. Council members said they hope to have clearer direction before budget discussions begin, as the findings could significantly influence future funding priorities.
For residents, the decision means fewer city pool options this summer but also signals that no final determination has been made about the long-term fate of either facility. City leaders emphasized that the pause is intended to ensure decisions are based on comprehensive data and community needs rather than rushed conclusions.
