After more than a year of construction, Echo Hollow Pool & Fitness Center is ready to reopen Monday, June 21.
The nearly 50-year-old facility in the Bethel neighborhood closed in February 2020 just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for expansion and renovation, thanks to funding from the Parks and Recreation Bond measure passed by Eugene voters in May 2018.
Even though the facility is open starting Monday, registration is still required for all swim and fitness programs. There won’t be any drop-in availability until OHA COVID guidelines change. Aquatics holds registration every other Tuesday. You can find more information about registration at getrec.org/pools or by calling Echo Hollow directly at 541-682-5525.
The project cost $11.5 million and improvements include:
- Expanding the outdoor pool to 25 meters by 25 yards to maximize lap swim lanes and to create enough space to host water polo practices and matches. Two springboards (1 and 3 meters) also were added with an increased depth of 13 feet.
- Adding a brand-new 3,490-square foot activity pool that includes zero-entry, splash play, water basketball, two more swim lanes and a nearly 19-foot slide that is 134 feet long.
- Renovating the indoor pool, adding a new zero-entry ramp and deepening the deep end to allow for dive starts in all lanes.
- Adding 1,300-square feet of staff office space adjacent to the old entrance.
- Building an additional 1,576-square foot mechanical room to manage the larger footprint of the pools.
- Renovating both locker rooms, adding private showers, new lockers and two family changing rooms.
- Upgrading energy efficiency, including adding a 167-panel solar array to the roof and upgrading to LED lighting.
An opening celebration centered around a community Rec swim is planned for later in the summer after restrictions around pool usage lessen.
This renovation happened at the same time as another bond-funded expansion at Campbell Community Center, which is currently in the process of reopening. An event to celebrate that project will happen in late July.
For more information about the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond and Levy or the 30-year System Plan, visit eugparksandrec.org.