Reviewed by: Liv George
New indoor aquatic center to replace Foley’s 71-year-old pool
A new aquatic center is scheduled to open in Foley by the end of 2026, replacing the city’s outdoor pool that was built in 1953.
The city held a public meeting in July, gathering public input about what they would like to see from the new venue. The designing + planning phase is next with construction set to begin around August 2025.
Keep reading to find out more about the aquatic center + how you can still make your voice heard before construction begins.
Year-round swimming pool
The new aquatic center is being built so Foley residents have a place to swim throughout the year as opposed to just during the summer time.
“We want to provide this amenity for our city. We have 26,000 people in Foley now. I grew up swimming in that pool, which was built in 1953, but you can’t use it during the winter.”
~ Ralph Hellmich, Foley mayor
The proposed site for the center is Max Griffin Park in downtown Foley but it’s still unclear if it will be built where the current pool sits, which would cause the pool to be unavailable during construction.
During the public meeting, there were several possible features discussed and voted on including:
- Therapy pool
- Competition pool
- Spray feature/splash pad
- Diving boards
- Water slides
The new center will be a saltwater based pool which will not need as much chlorine treatment as is required by the current facility.
The new pool will also have zero-entry access, an area where the water gradually deepens. The feature will allow swimmers who may have difficulty using ladders to get into and out of the pool.
With the help of an updated aquatic center, the city hopes to provide even more programs like:
- Swim lessons
- Water aerobics (shallow + deep water)
- Competitive meets
- Family swim
“We have our outdoor pool, which is very well utilized during the summer. We want not only a year-round program for our swim teams, but we want it for everyone as well where we can have swimming lessons year-round. We can have water aerobics year round.”
~ David Thompson, Foley executive director of leisure services
Public comment
The city said more than 100 people showed up to the public meeting but for those who could not attend, there is still a way for your voice to be heard.
Residents who did not attend the meeting and who want to provide input on the aquatics center can also complete an online survey.
“We’re creating a better downtown amenity. We’re planning to overhaul that whole park. Our step one in Max Griffin Park was our Kids Park, which is one of the best kids parks in the area. We’re very proud of it. We want to do the same thing with the aquatics center.”
~ David Thompson, Foley executive director of leisure services
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