The good news is that the construction of the new EnergySolutions Aquatic Center pool is eight days ahead of schedule. The sad news is that the scheduled completion date is in October 2025, with a grand opening planned for the swimming season in 2026.

“We hoped to open next summer [2025], but many of the pool parts will not be here,” Brittany Lopez, assistant county manager, said in an update to the County Council during their Oct 29 business meeting.

Lopez also said once the parts are here, electrical contractors have said the electric work on a project of this magnitude will take around 125 days.

The county was told by consultants that the old pool has been shifting and sinking since it was first built. Attempts were made over several years to correct the pool, but they didn’t work, the consultants said.

“We want to give the public this pool,” Lopez said. “But we also want them to have a pool that will last. We want to build it and get it right this time.”

Lopez reviewed the timeline of recent repairs and the decision to rebuild the pool.

The pool has been sinking faster and deeper than the ground around it. In the fall of 2021, the concrete was removed from a section of the pool so water and drain lines disconnected by the uneven sinking could be fixed—this wasn’t the first time in the pool’s near 20 year history that this quick fix was done. The concrete was poured back, and the pool opened in the spring of 2022.

In the fall of 2022, working with a consultant, the cement around the lap pool was removed to get an in-depth look at the problem. The hope was to apply a better fix and get the pool back open for the spring of 2023.

“We knew this wouldn’t fix the settling, but we were going to look for other options,” Lopez said.

In March 2023, excavation began. By April 2023, we had a temporary fix with a planned July 2023 opening, according to Lopez. The county thought they had found a temporary fix, but the excavation unearthed other problems. A pressure test was done, and more fractures were discovered. The pool manufacturer said it would take 120 days to receive the parts to fix the pool.

In June 2023, while installing parts, several fractures were discovered in the lines around the pool. The planned temporary fix would not work and there wasn’t time to get new parts from the manufacturer before the summer was over. The pool didn’t open for 2023.

Soil testing was recommended.

The county contracted with IGES, a geotechnical engineering firm based in Salt Lake City. Soil sampling was conducted from August to October 2023. Based on the samples, it was decided the pool needed to be replaced.

In December 2023, the county held a literal groundbreaking for a new pool at Deseret Peak. Instead of turning dirt with a shovel, county council members and other county officials took turns swinging sledge hammers to ceremoniously break up the concrete of the old pool.

At the groundbreaking, county officials expressed optimism, but doubted that the pool would be ready to open in the spring of 2024. And it wasn’t.

From December 2023 to July 2024, the new pool was designed and engineered, the contractor was selected, excavation was completed, and construction began.

As it stands today, the pool has been ordered and is being manufactured. Initially about 180 feet of earth and soil was excavated from the pool site. Another 20 feet had to be excavated to keep the pool from continuing to sink.

“We are now eight days ahead of schedule,” Lopez said.

The funding for the new pool is part of a five-year $39 million enhancement of the Deseret Peak Complex. The improvements are funded by $19 million drawn from county reserve funds and $20 million financed through bonds paid with parks and recreation impact fees and tourism taxes. The county expects to build the new pool and complete the other improvements at Deseret Peak without an increase in property tax.

The new pool design divides the pool into two separate pools, featuring a lap pool and a leisure pool with a lazy river. The lap pool is strategically designed to be covered in the future, allowing for year-round use. There will also be state-of-the-art pool toys, including not one but two new slides and other water features.

Other improvements planned for Deseret Peak include the addition of a large destination playground, boasting exhilarating features and ADA-accessible components, including companion swings.

A spacious grass area will be added, equipped with numerous amenities, that will cater to festivals and large-scale events like Country Fan Fest and Night Lights. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the addition of six new multipurpose fields, accommodating various activities from football to soccer, rugby, and more, featuring both natural grass and artificial turf.

The ability to host equestrian and agricultural events will be enhanced with 200 livestock stalls to be relocated with upgraded and modern stall barns, accompanied by expanded outdoor venue seating to accommodate more spectators.

The upgrades include 70 RV hookups, enhancing the complex’s overnight stay capacity. Improvements to the existing pavilion and convention space aim to elevate comfort and functionality.

A new walking path will encircle the entire complex, eventually connecting to the popular Mid-Valley trail, fostering accessibility,

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