A transformed Douglass Pool will open its doors in 2025. Construction has already started on the rebuilt pool, which will have numerous fun, new features – including Kentucky’s first ‘wet bubble.’ The finished pool will be upgraded from a neighborhood pool to become Lexington’s fifth aquatic center.
“Douglass Pool, which originally opened in 1939, has seen some upgrades over the years, but nothing like this,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “I know Lexington residents will be excited to dive into this dynamic new aquatic center.”
Work on the project has begun, with demolition of the current pool and buildings well underway. Innovative Demolition is doing the demolition work.
Local design firm Brandstetter Carroll, Inc. was contracted for the new pool design; EHI Consultants worked closely with adjacent neighborhoods and gathered feedback through meetings and surveys.
Since the pool will be under construction during the 2024 pool season, neighborhood families and kids will be offered free pool passes for the 2024 season, good for use at any other city pool. More details and information about distribution of passes will be released at a later date.
“The pool at Douglass Park is rich with history and significance for the neighborhood and city,” said Councilmember Tayna Fogle, whose district includes Douglass Park and pool. “We’re very excited about this dynamic upgrade that will immediately elevate this pool to one of the best in the city. It’s a great way to honor its tradition, while meeting current and future needs of families.”
Douglass Aquatic Center will also feature four lap lanes, multiple shade structures, a zero-depth entry, diving board, new pool house entrance, and Lexington’s biggest water slide. The wet bubble is a large, climbable bubble, a feature that has become extremely popular across the country.
Monica Conrad, Director of Lexington Parks & Recreation said, “We’re so excited for this massive transformation – our largest single investment in a pool since the 1990s! Having fun new features, like the state’s first wet bubble, is going to make this new aquatic center not only a social hub for the neighborhood, but an aquatic beacon for the region.”
The project was funded through a combination of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and local funds.
For more information about Lexington’s city pools, swimmers, sun-bathers, and splash enthusiasts, can visit lexingtonky.gov/pools.
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Parks & Recreation, a division of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, oversees the programming, maintenance, and development of over 100 city parks and natural areas, six pools, five golf courses, community centers, recreational programs, and three arts venues. To find out more, follow @LexKYParks on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for the email newsletter.
