JULY 3, 2024:
Now that it’s been open for over a month, the hours of operation are being adjusted at Pierre’s new outdoor pool.
Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Tipton says the facility is even busier than city officials had anticipated.
The new hours start Monday (July 8, 2024).
Tipton says no scheduling adjustments are planned for swim lessons, water walking or water fitness classes.
The complex—which opened on Memorial Day 2024 (May 27, 2024)– features 19,000 square feet of water surface including a lazy river, two pools, three slides, a high dive, bathhouse and concessions open to both pool customers and the general public.
MAY 27, 2024:
With the cutting of a ribbon, the new outdoor pool in Pierre officially opened Monday (May 27, 2024).
Mayor Steve Harding said a lot of people worked hard to get the pool project completed.
Individual and family passes can be purchased at Pierre’s new outdoor pool. Those who pre-purchased admission passes can also pick those up at the pool.
The outdoor pool features two heated pools with multiple slides, play features, a lazy river and zero-depth entry.
The concession stand at Pierre’s new outdoor pool includes a service window that’s open to Griffin Park and one that can only be accessed from within the pool gates. Some of the menu items are pizza, pretzels, hotdogs, snow cones and fountain pop.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
Image credit DRG Media Group.
MAY 23, 2024:
It’s been years in the making and now Pierre’s new outdoor pool will hold its grand opening on Monday (May 27, 2024).
City Commissioner Todd Johnson says– weather permitting– there will be a ribbon cutting at 11:45am, with the pool opening at noon.
Pre-purchased passes can be picked up in the Oahe Family YMCA lobby Friday or Saturday evening (May 24-25, 2024) between 5 and 8pm. Beginning Monday, passes can be picked up or purchased at the new outdoor pool.
The concession stand at Pierre’s new outdoor pool includes a service window that’s open to Griffin Park and one that can only be accessed from within the pool gates. Some of the menu items are pizza, pretzels, hotdogs, snow cones and fountain pop.
The outdoor pool features two heated pools with multiple slides, play features, a lazy river and zero-depth entry.
FEBRUARY 21, 2024:
All the pieces of Pierre’s new outdoor pool project are coming together in preparation for opening this summer (2024).
At last night’s (Feb. 20, 2024) meeting, City of Pierre Project Manager Gidget Palmer asked commissioners to approved the contract to build the sidewalk around the pool.
Palmer says the cost is about what they anticipated it would be.
The Pierre City Commission also recently approved (Feb. 13, 2024) the purchase of equipment for the new outdoor pool’s concession stand. Among those items are a snow cone maker, a nacho machine, standup coolers and a hot dog grill.
Additionally, annual passes for individuals and families purchased before May 1, 2024, cost $100 and $295, respectively. Passes purchased after May 1 will be $150 and $345. Daily passes will be $10 for those under 48 inches and $12 for those 48 inches or taller. There is no fee for kids three years old or younger.
For additional information visit pierrepool.com.
FEBRUARY 15, 2024:
The Pierre City Commission has approved (Feb. 13, 2024) the purchase of equipment for the new outdoor pool’s concession stand.
Among the nearly 50 kitchen items approved were a snow cone maker, a nacho machine, standup coolers and a hot dog grill.
Bryan Tipton, City Parks and Recreation Director, said they talked with similarly sized pools throughout the state to see what items are popular at their concession stands and what are duds. He said you’ll find the new pool concession stand will offer much more than they had at the old pool.
Some of the menu items will be pizza, pretzels, hotdogs, snow cones and fountain pop. Popcorn will not be on the menu as Tipton says they were universally advised against it by other outdoor pool operators in South Dakota.
Mayor Steve Harding said they designed the concession stand with a service window open to Griffin Park and one that can only be accessed from within the pool gates. He said that will provide a nice value add to those who are using the nearby skate park, playground, pickleball courts and walking path.
The concession area is adjacent to the pool entrance and bathhouse. The area remains under construction with the primary focus on interior work including flooring, painting and installation of fittings.
The outdoor pool is scheduled to open in late May. It will feature two heated pools with multiple slides, play features, a lazy river and zero-depth entry.
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DECEMBER 7, 2023:
The Pierre City Commission has set fees for the new outdoor pool scheduled to open next year (May 27, 2024).
Annual passes purchased before May 1, 2024, for individuals and families are $100 and $295, respectively. Passes purchased after May 1 are $150 and $345. Daily passes will be $10 for those under 48 inches and $12 for those 48 inches or taller. There is no fee for kids three years old or younger.
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding says the new pool is a much bigger and better facility than what we’re used to in Pierre.
“We’re going from one small bowl with a little slide, to two large, heated pools with multiple slides, play features, a lazy river, and zero-depth entry,” said Mayor Harding. “The new pool experience will be much different!”
Passes go on sale Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at City Hall or at CityofPierre.org.
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2023:
There’s still work to be done, but contractors working on Pierre’s new outdoor pool project have made a lot of progress this summer.
City of Pierre Project Manager Gidget Palmer says the space includes several different water slides and a lazy river.
Palmer says the pools have passed their initial tests.
Palmer says there are three buildings on the site.
The total cost of Pierre’s outdoor pool project is expected to be approximately $20-million. A private fundraising initiative is underway to raise $3 million with the remainder being paid with existing city revenue.
For additional information, including how you can donate to the project, visit pierrepool.com.
MARCH 15, 2023:
The Pierre City Commission has approved installing enhanced slides for the new outdoor swimming pool.
Gidget Palmer, City of Pierre Project Manager, says translucent bands and shapes will be added to the two slides that have tunnels. She says this will allow some light into the slides to prevent the rider from being in the dark during their ride down the slide.
Some architectural features such as several concrete structures and the retaining wall that wraps around the project were also approved.
MAY 2022:
The second phase of Pierre’s outdoor pool project is about to begin. But before that can start, dirt needs to be removed from the construction site.
Last fall, about 15,000 yards of soil were excavated from the construction site and replaced with suitable fill material. Additional soil was brought in to help compact that fill material. Now that the permanent site soil has stabilized, the extra material needs to be moved off site to make way for construction of the pool.
That dirt work will increase truck traffic in the area surrounding the construction site. According to City Engineer John Childs, Sioux Avenue, Dakota Avenue and Ree Street will see the majority of the traffic.
“We have worked with the contractor to develop a haul route that keeps the trucks on the state highway and out of residential areas as much as possible,” said Childs. “Additionally, there is no on-street parking on Dakota Ave. between Crow St. and Capitol Creek.”
The truck traffic and parking restrictions are expected to lift by the end of the month.
Pool construction is scheduled to begin this summer. The 50-meter pool located along Crow Street is anticipated to take shape first, with the entire project including the recreational pool, lazy river, mechanical building, bathhouse, and parking lot complete in the fall of 2023.
For additional information about the pool project, visit pierrepool.com.
Map credit City of Pierre.
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