As the seasons change, communities across the country begin looking to municipal pools and aquatics centers as hubs for recreation and connection. However, several towns will not operate their public pools this summer, with some citing rising costs as the reason to lock the gates.
In Missouri, the City of Lawson announced this week that it would not be opening the historic city pool for the 2026 summer season. The facility was originally built in 1966 as a private swim club, but it was later donated to the city. Lawson city officials say that to continue operating the pool does not make financial sense.
“Over the past two years, the pool has lost a total of $96,000 in revenue. With other municipalities opening new, larger aquatic facilities with more features, we have experienced a huge decrease in attendance. In addition, there has been a 60% increase in pool chemical costs, and a continued rise in employment costs,” the city’s recent social media post said.
In Wisconsin, the Antigo School Board is having a similar debate. The Clara McKenna Aquatic Center is managed by the Woodson YMCA but funded by the school district, and rising costs are threatening the future of the pool.
The Antigo School Board heard public comment on Monday night regarding the future of the aquatic center. Many in the public felt passionately about keeping the facility open.
“For many of us, the pool is more than water and tiles," Antigo High School swimmer Holland Tainter said. "It’s where we’ve grown up. It’s where we’ve found confidence, friendships and purpose.”
Following the school board meeting, Antigo officials chose to investigate further before making a final decision. A taskforce was created, including three former members of the swimming pool board, three from the District Foundation and three school board members to evaluate a long-term financial solution.
In Pueblo, Colo., Pueblo West Metropolitan District officials have already made the decision to cease operations at the local aquatics center. Officials in Pueblo said “significant mechanical failures and major underground line breaks,” would cost too much to fix by the 2026 summer season. However, Pueblo swimmers have a silver lining.
Pueblo officials announced that the city would be accepting bids for the design of an indoor aquatics center beginning in Sept. 2026. Funds for the aquatics center were approved all the way back in 2016, and a recent vote to revise the scope of the project has set the wheels in motion for the $6.2 million facility.
