Lowell and South Pools Planning, Public Outreach and Engagement

Lowell and South Pool Information – February 2024

On Tuesday, February 13, Boise City Council approved $160,000 to resume planning efforts related to Lowell and South Pools, which will appear as an interim budget change (IBC) request. The funds are being used to update potential designs and cost estimates for both pools. The work to complete the new cost analysis is expected to take up to four months.

“I remain committed to opening Lowell and South Pools as soon as possible,” said Mayor Lauren McLean. “However, the cost estimates the city has on file from 2021 and 2022 are out of date and need to be updated so Boise City Council can have the important discussions necessary to determine the future of these two city pools.”

Based on community outreach efforts, alternatives the city is studying for both Lowell and South Pools include:

• Bringing the pools up to code and meeting accessibility standards
• Reimagining the pools on site with the opportunity to preserve the historic Art Deco entrances

Boise Parks and Recreation will continue to keep the community updated as next steps in the planning process are determined.

Background

The Boise Parks and Recreation Department owns and operates six outdoor pools located across the City of Boise. A public outreach and engagement process took place from November 2021 through May 2022 to gather community input on the future of Lowell and South Pools, which are the oldest facilities within the city’s public pool system. Information and feedback gathered throughout the outreach process is being used in presentations to city leaders as decisions are made about the future of both pools.

2021-2022 OUTREACH REPORT

Project consultants at Agnew::Beck compiled neighborhood and resident feedback and key findings from a seven month outreach process into a final report. To view it, click the button below.

OUTREACH REPORT

COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS

Community surveys for both Lowell and South Pools launched in February and closed on March 28, 2022. The goal of the two surveys was to gather input on city values, potential scenarios for each pool site, any additional comments and resident stories related to the two aging recreation facilities. The city received a wide range of responses to both surveys, with 2,167 individual responses to the South Pool survey and 1,869 individual responses to the Lowell Pool survey. For an overview of results and survey analysis from our local outreach partners at Agnew::Beck Consulting, click the button below.

Survey Results Report

Survey responses and individual comments are included in the following documents. Responses are anonymous.

South Pool Survey Responses

Lowell Pool Survey Responses

In addition to the background information provided on this project page, Boise Parks and Recreation has answered a variety of frequently asked questions about the two pools, the planning process, budgeting and more.

Lowell and South Pools FAQ

Pools History

South and Lowell Pools were constructed around the year 1953. Both pools were designed by engineer Wesley Bintz and constructed by Jordan and Sons of Boise. According to reports, Bintz founded the Bintz Pool Company and patented his above-ground pool design in the 1920s. Online research estimates more than 100 Bintz pools were constructed across the country between the 1910s and 1960s. South and Lowell Pools are two of just over a dozen remaining. Fans of the “Bintz Pool” style created a Facebook page to chronicle his work and the status of Bintz pools across the country.

The matching municipal pool entrances at Lowell and South feature Art Deco/Art Moderne design elements. Each above-ground pool is accessed via a stairway from the locker room and restroom area. The facilities feature a deck, diving board, shallow end starting at three feet deep and a deep end at 12 feet deep.

South and Lowell Pools closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remain closed following a series of condition and ADA assessments that revealed serious deficiencies and safety issues.

The Boise City Department of Arts & History has compiled research on Lowell and South Pools, as well as the city’s overall municipal pools system.

Read Lowell and South Pools History

Read A “Municipal” History

Current Condition

The City of Boise contracted with local architectural firm Cushing Terrell in November of 2020 to conduct an on-site evaluation of both South and Lowell Pools. For this analysis, Aquatic Design Group of Carlsbad, California, served as a subcontract consultant. Using industry standards and code requirements, the consultants developed a report including an analysis of architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, site and pool systems. An ADA analysis was also performed separately by Tindale Oliver, a national expert on addressing accessibility.

Read the Facilities Assessment Report

Read the ADA Assessment

The reports detail a variety of deficiencies with both pools and recommend significant steps necessary to bring the pools up to safety and accessibility standards. The assessments found potential asbestos in wall insulation at the pools and lead paint. There is damage to the interior of the pool facilities, walls and stairs are in poor condition and pipes are corroded, among other issues.

Engineers and architects with experience in historic structures are a part of Cushing Terrell’s project team and remain an integral part of the facility assessment process.

Additional structural assessments completed in February 2022 found both pool structures are in fair condition. There is no evidence to suggest that South Pool possess any structural deficiencies that would differ from Lowell Pool, so the structural analysis completed by Cushing Terrell and ATLAS only includes Lowell Pool at this time.

Read the Lowell Pool Structural Report

Cost Analysis

The City of Boise Public Works Department estimated the cost to correct already identified issues independent of any structural deficiencies was approximately $2.4 million per pool (2021 estimate). This estimate does not represent the full scope of anticipated costs for either project.

An in-depth structural testing evaluation was completed in February 2022 to determine the impact of age and use on the integrity of both South and Lowell Pools. This information is being used by city staff to update cost estimates and potential future scenarios for the public pools.

At open houses held at both South and Lowell Pools in April 2022, the City of Boise and Cushing Terrell presented two potential scenarios for further study for each pool, with updated cost estimates attached to each. Click on each scenario below to view a rendering, cost estimate for that particular scenario and additional information.

SOUTH POOL
Scenario 1 – Bring the pool up to code and meet accessibility standards
Scenario 2 – Reimagine the pool on site with opportunity to preserve the historic Art Deco entrance

LOWELL POOL
Scenario 1 – Bring the pool up to code and meet accessibility standards
Scenario 2 – Reimagine the pool on site with opportunity to preserve the historic Art Deco entrance

Please keep in mind, the scenarios presented are dependent on a variety of factors and the renderings shown are not meant to represent a guaranteed outcome.

Public Outreach

December 2021

Initial stakeholder focus groups held for each pool.

• These meetings, hosted by Boise Parks and Recreation and Agnew::Beck Consulting, convened recreational users, neighbors, historic preservationists, members of the mobility community, and more with the goal of understanding user preferences, historic importance and community sentiment associated with each pool site.

Using initial information gathered from these December focus groups the department is planning a broader series of public engagement opportunities in 2022 to discuss the future of South and Lowell Pools.

January – May 2022

Additional pools outreach opportunities to include a community survey, workshops and tours of the facilities as weather conditions and COVID-19 precautions allow.

Please note, this schedule was adjusted in May 2022 to reflect changes in the project timeline. Additional detail is included below.

PDF Version

Timeline

November 2021

• Information gathering and research
• Work session presentation to mayor and Boise City Council
  (November 30) -  the pool presentation starts about 2:30 into the work session recording

December 2021

• Initial stakeholder meetings held for South and Lowell Pools
• Coordination of structural assessments on both pool facilities

January 2022

• Engineering and architectural consultants complete structural assessments and additional architectural outcomes with cost estimates
• Historic Preservation Commission presentation (January 31)

February 2022

• Community update and project web page launch
• Launch community survey

March 2022

• Close community survey and analyze results
• Community surveys closed March 28, 2022

April 2022

• Release initial survey results
• Host planning workshops and in-person tours at pools
• South Pool Open House, Tuesday, April 26 from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Lowell Pool Open House, Thursday, April 28 from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Gather additional community feedback

May/June 2022

• Summarize key findings and recommendations from public engagement into final report
• Presentation of feedback and recommendations to commissions and Boise City Council
  • Boise City Council Work Session Presentation, June 7 (watch meeting)
• Agnew::Beck’s key findings and outreach final report (view report)

February 2024

• Boise City Council members approved the $160,000 in funding for updated designs and cost estimates for both pools so planning efforts can continue (Learn More)

Stay Informed 

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