Exterior of Malvern Hills Park's poolhouse

Happening Now

Scroll down to take the community survey by April 28

Currently, this project is in the planning phase. The City of Asheville posted the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in February, inviting top aquatic design and architecture firms to outline their best ideas to meet the needs of the community. To ensure the selected firm can get to work quickly, we’ve launch a community survey to gather ideas, preferences, and potential uses for the new pool. This is an opportunity to let us know what features and experiences are most important. Feedback from the survey will be used to design community engagement sessions in the coming weeks, further refining ideas to design a space that reflects the entire community’s spirit.

Due to catastrophic Helene-related damage to parks, streets, and other vital community infrastructure, the City of Asheville is sequencing community investment projects based on complexity, available resources, and staff capacity.

Background

The current pool has exceeded its useful lifespan and presents safety concerns. Replacing the pool is crucial to:

  • Ensure public safety: Mitigate risks associated with the current pool's condition and meet current building codes and safety standards
  • Improve accessibility: Provide a fully accessible facility compliant with ADA guidelines, ensuring inclusivity for all community members
  • Enhance recreational opportunities: Offer modern amenities and features to promote healthy lifestyles
  • Increase community value: Create a valuable asset that enhances the quality of life and attractiveness of our city

Opportunities for Input

Let us know your thoughts by taking the community survey below. Additional feedback opportunities will be announced once a design firm has been selected.

For more on construction project flow, check out this article.

Useful Links

Community Survey

City staff members are reviewing top aquatic design and architecture firms' responses to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) shared in February and expect to announced the winning team soon.

To ensure the selected firm can get to work quickly, we’ve launch a community survey to gather ideas, preferences, and potential uses for the new pool. This is an opportunity to let us know what features and experiences are most important. Feedback from the survey will be used to design community engagement sessions in the coming weeks, further refining ideas to design a space that reflects the entire community’s spirit.

The survey is open through April 28.

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* Rank the following pool activities in your order of importance

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* Rank the following pool features in your order of importance

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* What time of day are you more likely to visit City of Asheville public pools? Select up to three.

Select a response

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* In the past, how often did you use City of Asheville public pools during a typical summer season? Select one.

Select a response

Previous Updates

February 28, 2025

March 31, 2025

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Project Prioritization

City of Asheville projects are evaluated and prioritized based upon many criteria including public safety, economic growth and sustainability, affordable housing and community development, quality of life, and availability of funding sources, among others. A new aquatics facility was identified as a priority in the Recreate Asheville 10-Year Plan.

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Determine Funding Sources

Asheville voters overwhelmingly approved a general obligation (GO) bond referendum in November allocating up to $20 million for parks and recreation improvements throughout the city including a new pool at Malvern Hills Park.

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Community Engagement and Visioning

Community members, City of Asheville staff, and aquatics professionals work together to define expectations and develop a realistic vision for the new pool.

Opportunities for input include:

  • March 31-April 23: Preference Survey

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Project Design

Professional project managers translate community engagement and visioning into a design that incorporates environmental compliance, building codes, cost estimation, and other requirements. The goal is to reflect the community’s views in balance with feasibility.

This is the most technical phase and may include complexities such as right of way acquisition, utility relocation, and multiple levels of review, which can cause setbacks to the original timeline.

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Project Construction

Upon design approval, the City of Asheville advertises and selects a construction firm. Once the construction contract is approved by City Council, construction can begin!

City staff stay in touch with community members about what to expect throughout construction. Projects often experience delays during the construction phase due to weather, unexpected discoveries, or supply chain and labor shortages.

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Project Completion

A new pool opens in Malvern Hills Park.

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Maintenance and Operation

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) executes a maintenance and operation plan to protect this new community asset for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

While the specific timeline is not finalized, this project is a top priority for the City of Asheville. A more detailed timeline will be shared in the future, but designing and building a new outdoor pool – even on the site of a previous pool – is complex and will take time. For perspective, the community engagement, design, and construction of the pool at Grant Southside Center took multiple years.

Contact Information

Pete Wall, Assistant Director

Asheville Parks & Recreation

pwall@ashevillenc.gov

(828) 259-5800