Green Bay City Council Approves $11M Aquatics Center Renovation

The Green Bay City Council voted on Tuesday night to move forward with plans to renovate and update the Joannes Aquatics Center, the city’s oldest pool.

The project is estimated to cost $9.45 million, with a 20% contingency added in case contractors run into obstacles throughout the process. To pay for the large-scale renovation, the Parks Committee will make a bond request in 2026, funding the first part of the three-part renovation.

According to WBAY, throughout the three phases of the renovation, Joannes Aquatics Center will get updated mechanicals, new waterslides, a lazy river, splash pads, a jumping pillow, cabanas, an aquatic zipline, a rock climbing wall and other additional shade structures.

Green Bay residents voted down the potential addition of a two-lane surf rider, which they “deemed inappropriate” for the aquatics center. However, other non-aquatics amenities were approved for installation in the surrounding areas, including donated batting cages.

Related: Green Bay Mulls Costly Repairs to Aquatics Center’s Beloved Water Slides

Joannes Aquatics Center did open for the season this month, but the city’s beloved slides will remain closed for repairs. As the renovation is not scheduled to begin until 2026, pool goers will still have access to the facility for a majority of the season.  

Green Bay parks officials first realized the infrastructure at Joannes Aquatics Center needed updates in April of this year. The city conducted an inspection on multiple facilities and found that the slides in particular would not be safe without significant repairs or replacement.

City Council member Melinda Eck told the Green Bay Press Gazette that the renovated Joannes Aquatics Center will be “right up there with our crown jewel, Bay Beach.”

Parks department director, Dan Ditscheit said he hopes that the first phase of the renovation is completed by the fall of 2026, but he estimates that phase two could take three to five years to complete.