Pool

Preston Swimming Pool

Mission Statement

“To invest in Preston’s future by providing a modern aquatic facility that promotes water safety, encourages active living, supports local families and businesses, and serves as a lasting community asset for residents and visitors alike.”

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A Pool for the Next Generation

Some places mean more to a community than the bricks and concrete they’re built from. For many Preston families, the swimming pool is one of those places. It’s where children learned to swim, friends spent summer afternoons together, and families created memories that lasted a lifetime.

For nearly 70 years, Preston’s pool has served our community well, but its time has run out. The pool has reached the point where repairs are no longer possible, and we now face a choice: invest in a new aquatic facility or lose a community asset that has been part of Preston for generations.

The existing pool is no longer an option

This isn’t about replacing something old simply because it’s old. It’s about ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities and experiences that generations of Preston families have enjoyed.

A new aquatic facility would provide a safe place for children to learn swimming and water safety, give families a place to gather and stay active, and create recreation opportunities for residents of all ages. It would strengthen Preston as a destination, support local businesses, and provide summer employment opportunities for local youth.

Most importantly, it would serve the people who call Preston home and those who visit from neighboring communities.

The Preston Pool Committee’s mission says it best:

At its heart, this effort is about more than a pool. It’s about investing in our children, our families, and our community’s future.

The old pool served Preston for nearly 70 years.

Now it’s our turn.

If we want future generations to have the same opportunities, memories, and sense of community that the pool provided for us, we must act today.

Let’s build a pool that will serve Preston for the next 70 years.

Pool Concepts

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How old is the current Preston Swimming Pool?
Answer: The Preston Swimming Pool originally opened in 1957. The City of Preston took very good care of the 70-year-old facility, but it has reached the end of its useful life.
2. What is wrong with our swimming pool?
Answer: Despite regular maintenance and significant efforts to keep the facility operating safely, Preston’s swimming pool has reached the end of its useful life. The pool experiences substantial daily water loss, contains outdated mechanical systems, has safety concerns, and does not meet several current code requirements. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Health has identified code deficiencies that would eventually require the facility to close.

The City Council carefully considered whether renovating the existing pool was a viable option. However, the extensive repairs needed to fix structural and mechanical issues, bring the pool and bathhouse into compliance with current health and safety codes, and meet ADA accessibility requirements made renovation a less practical long-term investment.

Municipal swimming pools are typically designed to last 35 to 50 years, and Preston’s pool has significantly exceeded that lifespan. Continuing to invest in the existing facility would not provide a sustainable solution for the community.

A new aquatic facility would address current safety and accessibility concerns, reduce ongoing maintenance challenges, and provide a modern, sustainable amenity for residents and visitors. The importance of a community pool is also recognized in the Preston 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which identifies the facility as a valued community asset. Investing in a new aquatic facility reflects the City’s commitment to preserving this important recreational resource for future generations.
3. How many different Conceptual Sites and Plans did the Pool Committee look at before deciding on what is presented?
Answer: Six sites were considered and analyzed with multiple plans evaluated. The Pool Committee decided on the proposed concepts because they will serve all age groups and will allow Preston to offer the next generation a safe place to swim for the next 50 plus years (or more!).
4. How much does the proposed pool cost?
Answer: The referendum is for up to $6 million for an all-inclusive project.
5. What are the estimated operating costs of the proposed pool?
Answer: The City has subsidized the operation of the existing pool for many years, and the estimated operating costs of the proposed pool are expected to be similar. Increased operational efficiencies and opportunities for expanded programming are anticipated to improve revenue generation and help balance operating expenses over time. In 2025, the City’s operating subsidy was $35,888, and in 2026 it was $36,558.
6. How would the project be funded?
Answer: The majority of the funding is expected to come from a November referendum, with up to $6 million in bonding proposed to complete the full project. If the referendum is approved, additional funding will be pursued through a Capital Campaign, which would include monetary contributions as well as in-kind donations of labor and materials to help offset project costs. These fundraising efforts could reduce the amount ultimately financed through bonding.

While the City cannot actively conduct fundraising campaigns, it may accept donations designated for specific public purposes, such as the construction of a municipal swimming pool. Community organizations, including the Preston Area Community Foundation, may assist with Capital Campaign fundraising efforts during the months following referendum approval. Any funds raised through these efforts would help reduce the overall project cost and the amount that needs to be financed.
7. Why does the proposed pool cost so much?
Answer: Constructing a new municipal pool is a significant investment. The Pool Committee has selected design options that are intended to offer unique aquatic amenities that will attract residents and visitors to Preston and provide lasting value to the community. Burbach Aquatics, Inc. designs durable aquatic facilities built to withstand the demanding Midwestern climate and environmental conditions that can contribute to pool deterioration, leaks, and premature failure. This approach emphasizes long-term performance, helping communities reduce future maintenance challenges and protect their investment.

Recent municipal aquatic facility projects across Minnesota have commonly ranged between $4 million and $8 million, depending on pool size, amenities, bathhouse facilities, accessibility features, and site improvements. The proposed Preston project falls within the range of costs being experienced by communities replacing aging outdoor pools today. The cost estimate is based on current construction pricing, engineering analysis, and the cost of similar aquatic facility projects being built in Minnesota today.
8. What is the size of the proposed pool vessel compared to the old pool?
Answer: The old pool surface area is 3,475 sq. ft. and the proposed pool surface area is between 3,810 and 4,657 sq. ft.
9. Why does the proposed pool vessel need to be this size?
Answer: Modern public swimming pools must meet current safety, accessibility, and operational standards that did not exist when many older pools were built. The proposed pool includes a zero-depth entry, which provides accessible access for swimmers of all ages and abilities and helps meet ADA accessibility requirements.

Because the zero-depth entry area replaces the traditional separate wading or “baby” pool, additional pool surface area is needed to accommodate young children while still providing adequate space for swimming lessons, recreational use, and lap swimming. The proposed design is intended to serve a wide range of users and age groups within a single, accessible pool vessel while providing flexibility for community programming and future needs.
10. Where will the pool be located?
Answer: A final location has not yet been determined.

Two locations are being considered: the existing swimming pool site and an alternative site near the Fillmore Central Elementary School. Geotechnical work is currently being completed to evaluate ground conditions at the existing swimming pool site. The results will help the Pool Committee determine the most suitable location for the proposed facility and the City has begun discussion with the Fillmore Central School District to acquire land north of the baseball field along with the land where the tennis courts are.
11. What is the timeline for this project?
Answer: If the referendum is approved and the Preston City Council authorizes the project to move forward, fundraising efforts led by community and charitable organizations are expected to begin shortly thereafter. Project design, permitting, and final planning would follow, with construction anticipated to begin in summer 2027. The new aquatic facility would be expected to be completed and open for public use by June 2028.
12. Will we have a pool for summer 2027?
Answer: The Minnesota Department of Health will determine whether the existing pool can continue operating for the 2027 season.

Based on current discussions, if the referendum is approved and a replacement pool project is moving forward at a new location, the existing pool may be allowed to remain open during the transition period. If the referendum is not approved, the existing pool is expected to be permanently closed and demolished because it does not meet current requirements for continued operation.

The City will provide updates as additional guidance and decisions are received from the Minnesota Department of Health.
13. Will my property taxes be affected by the project and if so, by how much?
Answer: Property taxes are expected to increase to help fund this project. The exact amount of the increase will depend on the assessed value of your property, the final project cost, interest rates at the time the bond is issued, and the amount of funding secured from other sources.

The project is proposed to be financed through a bond with a 30-year repayment period. In addition, community and charitable organizations plan to conduct a Capital Campaign to seek donations, grants, and in-kind contributions. Any funds raised through these efforts would reduce the amount that needs to be financed, helping to lower the overall property tax impact on residents.

14. What is the process if the referendum passes or fails?
Answer: If the referendum passes, the Preston City Council will consider final approval of the project, including authorization of project bonding. If approved by the City Council, the City’s bonding agent will complete the bonding process, and a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued for construction of the project. Qualified contractors will have the opportunity to submit bids, and the City Council will award the contract in accordance with Minnesota procurement requirements. The bond is anticipated to be issued in 2027, with any property tax impacts beginning in 2028.

If the referendum does not pass, the City Council will consider funding the demolition of the existing pool through the City’s general fund. An RFP will be developed and issued for demolition services, qualified contractors will be invited to submit bids, and the City Council will award the contract in accordance with Minnesota procurement requirements. Demolition of the existing pool would be expected to occur during 2027.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Michelle Marotzke, Interim City Administrator

507-765-2153

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