Memorial Park Family Aquatic Center closed for the season on August 10, and Jefferson City families won't see the pool return to full form for two more summers. City officials are moving ahead with a renovation expected to cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million, with construction slated to begin in August 2027 and a reopening targeted for summer 2028.
The project comes after a 2024 facility assessment by Waters Edge Aquatic Design found that several major pool components were nearing or had already reached the end of their expected service life, according to ABC17News. The pool last saw a major renovation in 1993, and the city has continued routine maintenance in the years since. Renovation plans call for work on the pool basin, gutters, pumps, filters, plumbing and controls, along with concrete work and updates to one pool play feature, the station reports.
City officials say the goal is to extend the community pool's life by another 10 to 15 years. Aaron Grefrath wrote that Memorial Pool has been a longstanding and valued part of the community, underscoring why the facility remains a priority even as costs climb into seven figures.
How the City Plans to Pay for It
The renovation will be funded partly through the city's capital improvement tax revenue allocated to parks each year, and partly through the Parks Department's operating budget, per the same account. The Parks Department has proposed using about $1 million from the parks half-cent sales tax for capital projects, with $750,000 of that earmarked specifically for repairs to Memorial Park Pool. That funding mechanism got a boost this month when Jefferson City voters approved renewal of the half-cent capital improvement sales tax, which has historically supported street, stormwater, and park upgrades, according to ABC17.
Sales-tax revenue is projected to come in about $360,000 above budget, according to a city agenda cited in the report. The parks fund also had $5,219,440 in its fund balance at the end of June, giving the department some cushion as it plans the multi-year project. Other proposed 2027 capital spending includes $186,318 for a new HVAC unit at the Washington Park Ice Arena, $69,777 for a new digital sign at Washington Park, and $26,980 for general replacements at The Linc.
The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department approved a $75,900 contract with Waters Edge Aquatic Design in June to develop formal engineering plans for the repairs, following up on the firm's December 2023 evaluation that examined pool basin structures, changing areas, staff facilities, perimeter amenities, and mechanical systems against current codes.
What Families Will Miss This Off-Season
Memorial Park Pool typically draws nearly 10,000 visitors each season, and residents say its extras set it apart from the city's other outdoor pool. Christina Bennett said Memorial Park Pool has slides and lily pads that offer more activities than Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool, and that her children especially enjoy the facility because of those features, the report notes.
With Memorial Park Pool closed for the season, residents were directed to Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool, which is scheduled to remain open through Labor Day. That 60-acre riverside park, home to a 9,500-square-foot pool and the 2,500-capacity Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater, received its own repair and repainting work ahead of the 2026 season under a city bid solicitation estimated at $50,000 to $150,000.
A Park Built on Wartime History
Memorial Park itself carries deeper roots than the pool renovation debate suggests. The grounds were originally named Binder Park before being renamed Memorial Park in 1946 to honor World War II service members, with the municipal pool built on the property later that decade. The park today sits on Memorial Park Road and includes a 1.1-mile trail and shaded picnic pavilions, part of a pool complex that also features four water slides, a climbing wall, zero-depth entry, and a lily pad walk.
The adjacent Memorial Park Pavilion already got its own upgrade, with JC Parks completing an $825,701 renovation between October 2024 and April 2025 using half-cent sales tax funds to rebuild structural foundations, restrooms, and concession facilities. That project, designed by The Architects Alliance and built by Rhad Baker Construction, now stands as a preview of the kind of investment headed for the pool next door. The parks department oversees more than 1,400 acres of municipal land in total, including 20 parks, 40 miles of trails, and two outdoor swimming pools, all under policy guidance from a nine-member citizens Parks and Recreation Commission.
For now, Jefferson City families will have to wait out two more summers before Memorial Park Pool reopens with its aging infrastructure replaced. City officials have not detailed final construction bidding timelines, but the current plan keeps the pool closed through the 2027 season while crews complete the overhaul.
