Twin Falls City Pool Soft-Opens Newly Expanded Main Building Following $2 Million Renovation in Idaho
Five-Month Construction Project Addresses Decades-Old Infrastructure Problems
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The Twin Falls City Pool has soft-opened its newly expanded main building following a $2 million renovation project that wrapped up just five months after construction began. The upgrades address long-standing maintenance problems while modernizing the facility for the thousands of residents who rely on it year-round.
The original pool building, constructed in 1988, had accumulated a range of chronic infrastructure issues over nearly four decades of use. According to Twin Falls Aquatics Manager John Pauley, the facility’s core systems had deteriorated to the point where cosmetic fixes were no longer sufficient.
“This facility was built in 1988. There’s been some attempted improvements we’ve tried over the years, but it really boiled down to the actual systems in the building needed replaced to fix a lot of these problems,” Pauley explained during a tour of the newly completed spaces.
The renovation tackled roof, HVAC, and plumbing deficiencies that had plagued the building for years — issues familiar to taxpayers who have watched the facility require repeated attention without lasting resolution. The project represents a significant one-time investment aimed at preventing the ongoing cycle of patchwork repairs that had defined the pool’s maintenance history.
New Locker Rooms, Accessible Showers, and Family Facilities Among the Upgrades
Beyond addressing failing infrastructure, the renovation substantially modernized the facility’s amenities. Men’s and women’s locker rooms have been completely redone, replacing the original open shower format with private single-stall showers. The new addition also includes single-occupancy unisex restrooms and showers, a family-sized shower and changing room, and a dedicated ADA-compliant single-occupancy shower and changing room.
“This is an example of one of our new showers, a private shower for anyone to use,” Pauley said during the facility tour. “Over here is our ADA shower accessibility for those that need it, and actually anybody, but especially those with ADA access.”
The expanded accessibility features reflect a broader effort to ensure the publicly funded facility serves all community members — including those with mobility challenges or families with young children who previously had limited options at the aging site.
Regular pool users have responded positively to the changes. Ron Alexander, who visits the city pool three times a week during the winter months, said the finished product exceeded his expectations.
“It’s better than I expected, even from that, so it’s a nice job. They’ve done a really good job with it,” Alexander said. “It’s really nice to just go and throw your stuff in the locker and go into the pool now.”
Candy Young, who has taught water aerobics at the pool for 19 years and arrives five days a week at 9 a.m., was equally enthusiastic about the new facilities.
“It’s beautiful. The dressing rooms are wonderful,” Young said. “The showers are nice, and even the family showers, and the unisex shower is wonderful too.”
The soft opening allows pool regulars to begin using the upgraded building ahead of a formal celebration. A ribbon-cutting grand opening is scheduled for Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m., giving the broader Twin Falls community an opportunity to see the improvements firsthand.
The project arrives at a time when community investment in local recreational infrastructure is under increased scrutiny. Nearby, the College of Southern Idaho’s baseball program has separately sought $2 million for a new clubhouse to modernize Skip Walker Field, underscoring a broader conversation in Magic Valley about the condition and future of publicly accessible facilities.
Residents planning to visit the pool this weekend should also take note of a freeze warning in effect for the area Saturday, April 19, which may affect early morning travel and outdoor conditions.
What Comes Next
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Twin Falls City Pool’s renovated main building is set for Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m. The event will mark the formal public debut of the upgraded facility. Pool staff and city officials are expected to participate. Residents and regular pool users are encouraged to attend and tour the completed spaces. Twin Falls County News will provide coverage of the grand opening event.