The Benton County Board of Commissioners has approved a grant of up to $100,000 to the Corvallis School District to support planned improvements to the Osborn Aquatic Center.
The City of Corvallis and Corvallis School District jointly operate and maintain the Osborn Aquatic Center, which serves as both a community recreation hub and a regional training and competition facility for students and swim teams. Swim meets and public programs hosted there contribute to local tourism and economic activity.
Providing financial support for a swimming pool is not something Benton County leaders have done in the past. And like most municipalities, they are facing new budget constraints.
But the Board of Commissioners also says it recognizes how much recreation, youth development, training opportunities and tourism revenues have already been affected since Osborn closed in October 2024.
“Osborn Aquatic Center plays an important role in our community’s health and economy,” said Board Chair Nancy Wyse. “From hosting swim meets that draw visitors to supporting recreation opportunities for families, it’s a facility that benefits the entire County. This grant recognizes its value while being mindful of future funding needs.”
Wyse cited sizable budget cuts and the Board’s efforts to maintain current service levels across the County as funding sources are cut. “Even so, I’m proud that we were able to figure out a way to make a meaningful contribution to a project that benefits so many people across our community.”
County Administrator Rachel McEneny echoed the desire to support the aquatic center despite the challenges facing counties. “County governments in Oregon and across the country are facing draconian budget cuts that threaten basic public services our communities rely on, including rural health, mental health, veterans’ services and public safety. These services extend well beyond city limits.”
“While some fiscal realities of cities, school districts and counties are different, we share the same community,” McEneny continued. “Investing very constrained county resources shows that even in tight budget times, Benton County is committed to supporting partnerships that benefit our communities.”
The total needed is close to $5.9 million: Repairs necessary for a safe reopening would be $5,898,164. So, the $100,000 may seem like a drop, in well, the pool. But State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin secured $4 in state funding help last legislative session, and every bit helps.
How we got here: Corrosion was found to be eating the structure housing the indoor pools last September, hence the closure that’s down gone on for over twelve months. The cost estimate for the fixes came from Scott Edwards Architecture, a Portland firm, and a team of specialized consultants.
Their analysis also included estimates for ongoing improvements and maintenance. Like, they’re estimating $3,192,01 in costs for the first ten years after reopening.
Why it’s important: According to the report, “Osborn is one of a few publicly operated indoor 50-meter pools with adequate deck space and spectator seating for swim competitions in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, it has a warm-water therapy pool, second-level enclosed spectator seating, locker rooms, classrooms, support spaces, an outdoor lap pool, an outdoor recreation pool, and water slides.”
According to State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, Osborn is one of the top three swimming centers on the West Coast. The closure of its indoor pools has impacted swimming teams statewide. The center’s indoor facilities also offered adaptive swimming for seniors and people with disabilities.
As this year’s legislative session was winding down, Gelser Blouin secured $4 million in state funding towards repairs.
Necessary info: The Corvallis School District owns the aquatic center. After the renovation and expansion in 1999, the District entered into an agreement with the City of Corvallis to operate and maintain the pool.
Between the lines: Here’s our analysis. Both the School District and City of Corvallis are experiencing budget contractions. So is the state.
On the plus side, the District has been somewhat proactive managing those challenges, and yes, Gelser Blouin secured that $4 million in state funding.
But there are minuses. The Corvallis City Council hasn’t begun to deal with its budget challenges. Two-year Councilor terms have not helped. Four of the nine current Councilors are freshmen. Arguably, the problems on the Council are deeper than that, but that’s another story. Most tellingly, however, the Council approved a biennial budget in June, and already, a $10 million deficit is being projected. We also worry, can that $4 million in state funding be clawed back as the state reckons with its own federally induced budget shortfalls; at press time, we don’t know.
In our view, getting this funded will be a tough slog, but on balance, probably worth it. And going into the future, we think the City and School District may want to review their approach to facilities maintenance, generally. Also, for any local officials that may be reading, just a reminder, local town elder types have been known to contribute to these kinds of thing. Maybe, sell off some naming rights or something. But we’re just spit-ballin’ and according to our editor there will be none of that in the pool, but you get the idea.
For the short summary version of the architect’s analysis click here. For the longer detailed version click here.
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