South St. Paul is pulling the plug on its decades-old Northview Pool for the 2026 season so crews can clear the site and make way for a brand-new outdoor aquatics center. City officials say the pool will stay closed this summer for site preparation and demolition, with a tentative partial opening of the new facility in July 2027 if construction stays on schedule. The decision follows years of studies and inspections that concluded the pool’s infrastructure was nearing the end of its usable life.
City letter and why the pool will stay closed
In a letter posted on the city’s website, Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Young told residents, “Northview Pool will not open this summer as we prepare the site for a new outdoor aquatics center,” according to the City of South St. Paul. The message encourages residents to rely on other city programs in the meantime and promises regular updates as design work moves ahead. City staff say the closure reflects the findings of a recent feasibility and design study that flagged major concerns with the aging facility.
Funding and the state’s role
To help pay for the project, local officials have asked the state to kick in up to $6 million through the 2026 bonding bill, as reported by Pioneer Press. “We’re waiting with bated breath to see if our state partners come through with that commitment,” Michael Healy told the paper. City leaders say the construction timeline depends heavily on whether lawmakers approve that request and how the City Council chooses to cover any remaining funding gap.
Timeline and price tag
The city’s Pool Feasibility and Design Study outlines an ambitious schedule: wrap up final construction drawings in spring 2026, close and prep the Northview site this summer, build through 2026 and 2027, and aim for a July 2027 opening that could still allow a shortened swim season, according to the Pool Feasibility and Design Study. The report pegs the preliminary cost of the new outdoor aquatics center at roughly $8.55 million and notes that the city could turn to bonds or other financial tools to cover any shortfall. It also cautions that borrowing would likely trigger public hearings and could create a modest property tax bump for the median homeowner.
Old pool’s problems
Northview’s problems have been building for years. The “box pool” opened in 1956, and inspectors eventually uncovered extensive mechanical failures and significant leaks that were estimated in 2023 to be losing about 12,000 gallons of water per day, according to reporting by the Star Tribune. Consultants told the city that even short-term fixes would run into the low millions, while full replacement would cost more upfront but be far more sustainable in the long run. Those findings helped push staff toward demolition and a consolidated aquatics strategy instead of pouring money into patchwork repairs.
Where people will swim this summer
With Northview shut down, the city says Lorraine Park’s splash pool will serve as the main public aquatic option this summer, with lessons and limited programs still on the schedule at that site, as noted by St. Paul Publishing. Officials are also steering residents toward community events and other swim opportunities while the aquatics project inches forward. The city plans to post construction milestones and community meeting dates as the design, funding, and timing become clearer.
Next steps
The city is now waiting on any move by the Minnesota Legislature on its bonding request before the City Council settles on a final financing plan that could include tax-advantaged bonds or other local options, as reported by Pioneer Press. If state money comes through, crews could start site prep and demolition work this summer. If it does not, officials say they will have to revisit the project’s scope and schedule. City leaders maintain that, funding questions aside, the long-term goal is to trade in failing mid-century infrastructure for a modern, accessible facility that can serve South St. Paul residents for decades to come.
