Menasha pool concept. (Source: City of Menasha)
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Concepts are in for Menasha’s $15 million pool project at Jefferson Park.
Two bodies would need to approve the project: the Parks and Recreation Board and the Common Council.
If all goes to plan, the pool would open in summer 2028 — a year later than the initial projection.
New pool would replace decades-old pool at Jefferson Park
The Menasha Common Council voted to close the 70-year-old pool at Jefferson Park last October. The city estimated the pool needed between $300,000-$500,000 in repairs.
The pool is the final major piece of the Jefferson Park redevelopment plan. The city has built a new playground, pavilion and boat launch.
$15 million would be paid through mix of public and private funds
The city has committed $4 million of taxpayer funds in each of the 2026 and 2027 budgets, totaling $8 million, which would still leave the project $7 million short. The city would look toward a $7 million fundraising campaign to raise the full $15 million.
“My job as mayor, our job as a city, is to support the initiative — some things that our community want — and going through that visioning process with the master plan, going with the open houses that we’ve had. It is overwhelming that a lot of people in our community want it,” said Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond. “So, I think us prioritizing, borrowing, to be able to accomplish this project to meet the moment of those needs.”
Concept includes lazy river, three slides, lap pool
Initial concepts call for:
- Two slides out of a 25-foot slide tower
- Drop slide
- Lazy river
- Leisure pool
- Lap pool
- Basketball hoops
- Water volleyball
- 40-foot mini ninja course
“It’s a big price tag, but we want to do it right,” said Menasha Parks and Recreation Director Megan Sackett. “It’s been 60 years since we’ve had a pool. We’ve built a pool in the past, and so it may be another 40, 50, 60 years before we do it again. And so we want to make sure we do it right and not take unnecessary shortcuts that would jeopardize the quality of what we can present.”
Timeline
The timeline is not pending approval from the boards, but is tentatively laid out as follows:
- Parks and Recreation Board decision: March 10, 2026
- Common Council decision: April 6, 2026
- Common Council awards contract: Dec. 7, 2026
- Construction complete: Mid-May 2028
- Pool open: Early June 2028
In the meantime, Menasha residents can get in-city rates at the city pools of Neenah and Appleton.
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