Creating an Aquatic Future for Ponderay

An artistic concept of an indoor leisure pool. The pool is a free-flowing shape and is surrounded by a wooden deck. The facility is covered by a white A-shaped roof and has large glass walls showing many trees and mountains outside. There are dozens of pool-goers of all ages playing and splashing in the pool and relaxing around it.

A healthy and safe aquatic center that is affordable and available for our community

We are excited to introduce our plans for a state-of-the-art indoor aquatic complex in Ponderay, Idaho. This facility will cater to the year-round needs of recreational and competitive swimmers alike, while also providing a critical training resource for our local first responders. At Ponderay Aquatic Center Endowment (PACE), our mission is to provide resources needed to achieve the success and accomplishments of the aquatic and recreational needs of our community.

Leisure pool designed for all ages and abilities

Competition pool for training and local events

Envisioned as part of the greater Field of Dreams complex

See the plan
Support our vision
An angled side shot of the competition pool deck with a line of starting blocks sitting in front of each pool lane and three diving boards seen in the background. Scoreboards are on the wall above the diving boards. A male and a female swimmer are diving from their respective starting blocks into the pool. Adults and children are walking behind the starting blocks and signs on the wall indicate entrances to the locker rooms and the lifeguard offices.
A detailed floor plan of the entire indoor aquatic facility. The bottom of the floor plan has an elevator, storage/mechanical rooms, locker rooms (including family locker rooms), lifeguard/staff offices, a party room, and lobby/circulation areas. The upper left part of the floor plan has grandstand seating for 400-600 spectators, a competition pool with eight 50 meter lanes (8 feet deep) and four 25 yard lanes (16 feet deep), three diving boards into the competition pool, a hot tub, two sets of showers (for rinsing off by the pool), and a team area. The upper right area of the floor plan features a leisure pool with three 25 yard lanes, a lazy river, a zero depth play area, and seating around the pool. An indoor/outdoor water slide is immediately adjacent to the leisure pool along with an outdoor splash pad. Both swimming pools and the hot tub are shown having ADA lifts (for people with disabilities) at each body of water.
A cross section diagram that shows a side view of the pool facilities and its vertical dimensions. At the bottom, the competition pool is noted as having eight 50 meter lanes with 8 feet of depth and four 25 meter lanes with 16 feet of depth. 1 meter and 3 meter diving boards along with a scoreboard are seen above the 16 foot deep section and an underground spectating area is at the bottom. An operable wall divides the competition and leisure pools. The leisure pool is noted to have an activity pool and a water slide next to/above it.
A large leisure pool featuring three 25 meter swim lanes, a zero-entry area, and a lazy river. A large freestanding enclosed water slide is off to the left side. The slide has stairs that lead to a second floor landing where users can enter the slide, which temporarily goes outside and ends in a tub inside the facility on the first floor. There are children in the pool playing basketball with a poolside basketball hoop. Many other pool goers are in and around the pool playing and relaxing.

Explore the leisure pool

  • Diverse programming for all ages: Provides swim lessons for children, warm water aerobics for seniors, injury recovery programs, family leisure opportunities, and spaces for hosting birthday parties.

  • Accessible and inclusive pool design: Maintains an 86–88°F water temperature, includes a zero-depth entry area for easy access, and features walkable lanes (4 ft deep, 25 yards long) for aerobics and swim lessons.

  • Child- and senior-friendly spaces: Offers varying depths (1 ft, 2 ft, and 3 ft) for swim lessons and safe recreational use, catering to young children and senior individuals.

  • Recreational features for fun and relaxation: Incorporates a lazy river with fountains and interactive elements, as well as an exciting indoor/outdoor slide for year-round enjoyment.

A large 12-lane competition pool that features spectator grandstands on the left side, starting blocks at each lane, and diving boards on the right side. There is a female swimmer diving from one of the starting blocks and another swimmer diving from one of the diving boards. A swimmer is seen swimming in one of the lanes. There are various bystanders around the pool and a large crowd sitting in the grandstands.

Explore the competition pool

  • Comprehensive training and event opportunities: Supports diverse aquatic activities such as swim meets, dive meets, water polo, synchronized swimming, deep water rescue training, SCUBA training, lifeguard certification, and kayak/boat safety events.

  • High-performance pool design: Features a 30 x 25-yard pool with multiple swim lanes (7.5 feet wide) and a waveless gutter system. Pool depths range from 8 feet to 16 feet, accommodating varied activities, including diving and deep-water training.

  • Specialized amenities for athletes and spectators: Includes a hot tub for adults and competitors, a large visible scoreboard, seating for 400–600 spectators, and a subterranean viewing area to observe deep-water activities and diving.

  • Fully-equipped support facilities: Houses offices for administration and lifeguards, showers, locker rooms, and storage beneath the bleachers. Additionally, features an ADA lift, ensuring accessibility for all users.

An artistic concept of an outdoor splash pad. A tree and long grass landscape the foreground of the image next to the splash pad. There are many children playing on the splash pad with other children and adults conversing and spectating to the side. The background shows the exterior of the indoor pool complex on the left and trees and mountains on the right. Many clouds are shown in the sky as well.

Opportunities for our community

Ponderay deserves a place for the community to come together, be active, and develop necessary skills and support for life in a town surrounded by water.

Health & wellness benefits

  • Living on Lake Pend Oreille, it is critical that every child and adult knows how to swim. The facility will provide access to safe and accessible aquatics and instruction.

  • Having an indoor aquatic center will provide relief from heavy winters, creating an opportunity and place for leisure, fitness, safety, and community growth.

  • A wide array of accessible aquatic programming promotes the well-being of all, including people with disabilities and senior individuals.

Community benefits

  • A 16 foot deep competition pool would provide lifeguards and local first responders a place to train for deep water rescue.

  • Leisure, fitness, and competition swimming will be beneficial to our growing region. Over the next decade, North Idaho is expected to have a higher growth rate (1.6%) than the rest of the state (1.3%).

  • A comprehensive sports and fitness facility will encourage economic growth for other businesses in Ponderay.

How we can create this aquatic vision for Ponderay

Establish a memorandum of understanding with the City of Ponderay and North Idaho Ice

Partnering with the city would allow us to realize this vision as a part of the Field of Dreams complex. Similarly, North Idaho Ice could be a valuable partner who is also planning to build at the Field of Dreams. Ice rinks produce excess heat; this heat can be transferred to the aquatic center, creating efficiencies in energy consumption and utilization for both facilities.

Contract with an architect to complete building plans

Working with a reputable building architect will be essential in proceeding to 100% design. This will ensure that we receive a state-of-the-art facility that is built to reflect our community needs and values.

Collect funds to build the facility

Funding from multiple sources will be required to raise the amount required to build the aquatic facility. This could include a combination of partnerships with other organizations, grants, public funding, and donations. Support from our community will be crucial and we kindly ask for donations and/or sponsorships to create this generational investment. Please reach out using the contact form below to inquire. Online donation capabilities are coming soon.

Construct the leisure pool

Building the leisure pool in our first phase of construction will ensure that we can quickly serve the largest portion of our community's needs. Construction for this phase will begin as soon as all relevant approvals are received and funds are available.

Construct the competition pool and the rest of the facility

Our second phase will see the construction of the competition pool and its associated features. This will establish the Ponderay Aquatic Center as a fully-featured state-of-the-art facility that serves the needs of all community members.

A shot from behind a male swimmer who is diving head first into a lap swimming pool. He is wearing swim goggles and black competition swim shorts. The legs of spectators can be seen on the side of the pool.

Ready to dive in? So are we!

Please help us reach our goal by donating. Every contribution helps us get one step closer to our vision.

Learn more about us
Support our vision

Connect with us

Please reach out with any questions or if you would like to know more about the project.

info@ponderayaquatics.org
PO Box 1002, Ponderay, ID 83852
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