Dayton Public Pool can’t wait to welcome you again — together, our community can bring it back to life.
Every bit of support brings us closer to our goal.
Two Collaborative Efforts
After the 2017 summer season, the Dayton City Council voted to close the community swimming pool due to unmet maintenance issues and limited City funds, creating potentially unsafe conditions for all users.
Background
The Columbia County Park and Recreation Pool District (CCPRPD) was created in November 2023 by Columbia County and city of Dayton voter approval of Proposition No. 1 to establish an unfunded Park and Recreation Pool District and elected five board commissioners to govern the newly established District. The board commissioners were sworn into office January 2024. The District board commissioners have worked diligently to establish a solid municipality foundation and developing a viable concept plan for a new community swimming pool. In November 2024 the community voters approved an Excess Levy to support the construction, maintenance and operation of the new pool. The District began collecting levy funds in May 2025. With these funds the District was able to move forward with needed professional services to develop the pool plan.
Mission Statement:
Improve community health, wellness and fitness by supporting the construction, maintenance and operation of a swimming pool for the leisure and enjoyment of all.
Vision Statement:
To offer families, community members and visitors a healthy, affordable and safe environment in which to learn the lifesaving skill of swimming and the benefits of social interaction and physical activity.
Goals
To construct a professionally built and ADA accessible swimming pool for community members and visitors.
To provide aquatic recreation for all ages for their leisure enjoyment.
To sustainably maintain and operate a successful recreation facility.
Increase the awareness and participation in the life saving skill of swimming.
To promote the physical well-being of community members of all ages.
Priorities
Acquire funds to facilitate the hiring of qualified architect/engineers to develop a design concept.
Develop an action plan based on the design concept.
Develop a financial plan based on the design concept, operation and maintenance costs.
Cost & Timeline
Estimated $3 million pool and bathhouse site.
Construction of the new pool is 18 months.
Action
Hired Budinger and Associates to provide Geotechnical Engineering Report of the pool site. Findings were that the pool site is appropriate for redevelopment of a new pool
Hired Cliff Steelman Building Inspector to assess the current pool house. Finding are that the current pool house is in sound condition. Renovation concept plan is being developed.
Selection a pool and deck plan.
Rendering of the site plan will be completed by WMS Aquatics
Contracted with Elsa Watson, Bellwether Group consultant and grant writing
Put forward for voter approval Excess Levy in November 2025 ballot
No New Taxes
Collaboration
The Dayton Friends of the Pool, a dedicated and motivated group of community members work closely with the CCPRPD to seek funding sources and promote the life saving skill and well-being benefits of swimming.
The Dayton Friends of the Pool have secured funding sources to provide swimming lessons at the Walla Walla YMCA for Dayton School District.
Kids from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades at the Dayton Elementary School completed swimming lessons at the Walla Walla YMCA during February and March. Each class was bussed to the YMCA in school buses for two-week sessions. Expenses for both lessons and bussing were paid by the Friends of the Pool Committee with funds granted from the Innovia Foundation, the Warren Foundation, the Columbia County/Dayton Community Foundation and The Exchange Club of Walla Walla. As the YMCA itself has separate grants to support swimming lessons in outlying communities, the cost of lessons was reduced. Many thanks to all involved for helping kids from Columbia County learn to swim, be safe in the water and to safely have fun in the water.
Contact the Commissioners
Have questions or comments? Reach out anytime:
Terri Hessler, Chair – wthessler@gmail.com
Katie Leid – katieleid.pool@gmail.com
Ted Lowe – daytonpoolTL@gmail.com
Dianne McKinley - Dianne.mckinley99328@gmail.com
Lisa Naylor – lisa.naylor2024@gmail.com
Fred Crowe is currently serving as Chair of the Dayton Friends of the Pool. He is looking for additional assistance if you are interested. Please consider helping make our new pool a success.
Fred can be reached at fcrowe@sisna.com