As all Sioux Falls pools set to open, city starts planning for aquatics future

For the first time since 2019, all Sioux Falls city pools will be open for swimmers this year.

Weather permitting, opening day will be June 3.

This swim season, the city also is looking to the future of its pool system, which could include a new take on swimming at Frank Olson Park and potentially a new pool serving south Sioux Falls.

“We’ll be engaging the community on what they want to see,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken, noting that upgrading pools citywide will be a priority for his second term.

The city plans to issue a bond for pool-related improvements in next year’s budget, which means it will be voted on later this year. It would include replacements for aging pools at Frank Olson, Kuehn and McKennan parks, upgrades to Laurel Oak and Terrace Park pools to extend their lives 25 years and a replacement clubhouse at Elmwood Golf Course.

Several pools “are getting to the end of the useful life in the case of Frank Olson, and others are nearing it in the case of McKennan and Kuehn,” parks and recreation director Don Kearney said.

“We’re keeping our options open as we looking at replacing facilities, much like we did at Spellerberg. We kept hearing in surveys they wanted indoor swimming, so we pushed that way, and I think it turned out way better than we could have ever hoped for.”

Frank Olson, a traditional eight-lane, 50-meter pool on the east side, was closed last year because of a lack of lifeguards but is the city’s longest operating full-size pool, built in 1976.

As part of community input, TenHaken said the public can weigh in on whether they would prefer a similar pool replace it or potentially a “multigenerational rec center that includes pools but also a walking track and weights, a community center for seniors,” he said.

That’s in keeping with the city’s shifting philosophy toward community centers, which looks at them more for all ages, Kearney said. When citizens were surveyed about what they’d like to see more of from the park system, adult fitness and walking opportunities ranked high on the list.

South Sioux Falls residents also might see a new swimming option in the years ahead — that could take an unconventional approach.

“Harrisburg is looking at a pool, so is this a time to partner in some way on a south-side pool, which is new and part of regionalization?” TenHaken suggested.

Nothing has been formally proposed yet, but those are the sort of regional conversations that the parks department is looking at more broadly, Kearney agreed.

“We’re growing together as one large metro area,” he said. “The boundaries are starting to get blurry, so it makes sense to start having those conversations with our area communities as it relates to all things parks and rec.”

In the meantime, the city is anticipating a busy swim season ahead. Thanks to increased lifeguard pay — they now start at $16 an hour — “we’re in great shape,” Kearney said. “All the pools are going to be open this summer, and we’re just training staff because a lot of them are finishing up school.”

The city will hire even more lifeguards, though, as some typically don’t work the full season.

“This is probably one of the best years for hiring we’ve had since 2008,” Kearney said, crediting a combination of factors from the rising cost of living to the increased pay the city is offering.

“It’s a priority for the community to have pools open, and we had support from the mayor and City Council to increase wages because they know it’s an important community service,” he said.

Open swim at city pools is from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. daily. Kids 6 and younger must be supervised by someone at least 16, and the ratio of kids 6 and younger must not exceed five children per adult. Family swim is from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and kids younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

City pools will host a variety of special events and activities for all ages this year. Click here for the summer activities guide.

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