North and South pools renovations update

Published on September 24, 2025

From Mayor Mark Lacis

Hi Superior community – I want to share an important update on our pool projects.

After reviewing the latest design and pricing for the North Pool, the Town Council and staff have decided to delay reconstruction until the 2026–2027 offseason. While this was not an easy decision, it’s the best path forward to keep the project on budget, on schedule, and aligned with community expectations.

Why the Delay?

Several key pieces of equipment had long lead times, creating a risk that North Pool wouldn’t open until late June or even July 2026 (losing a substantial part of the 2026 summer swim season), which was unacceptable to Council.  In addition, the most recent cost estimate for North Pool came in nearly $1 million over the budget (driven largely by foundation needs for the new mechanical building). Staff and our design/construction partners identified possible savings through value engineering, but even with reductions, the project remains above budget.

The New Approach

Rather than risk a mid-summer opening, the Town Council determined the smarter option is to delay.  By waiting until early 2026 to bid the project, both North Pool and South Pool can be bid together, creating more competition and better pricing.  We’ll also have enough time to order long-lead equipment (like heaters, filters, and other mechanical equipment), minimizing schedule risks.  The Town will also gain more budget certainty and ensure that both pools can open on time once construction is complete.

What’s Next?

The Town Council approved the South Pool design contract at the September 22 Council meeting. Design work will begin this fall and be finalized this winter.  Construction on both pools would begin in late summer 2026, with both pools rebuilt and ready for the community by the 2027 swim season.

Looking Ahead

I know this isn’t the timeline we originally hoped for, but this plan avoids losing a pool during summer, gives us greater budget certainty, and helps us stretch taxpayer dollars further while still delivering two outstanding facilities. These projects are incredibly important to our community, and we are committed to doing them right.

Keep up with the latest news on this project on our Town Projects webpage.