04/09/2026
Recent community fundraising efforts may be bringing two Yakima pools back—at least temporarily.
On Tuesday (4/7/26), Yakima City Council voted to allocate $230,000 in reserve funds to reopen Lions Pool in “some capacity” by April 15. The funding will also help support reopening efforts for Franklin Pool.
This comes after over $100,000 was raised by community members, showing strong local support for keeping the pools open.
Both pools were originally closed as part of 2026 budget cuts approved by City Council. At the time, Yakima was facing an estimated $9 million budget deficit, and Parks & Recreation saw significant reductions—including the elimination of funding for Lions Pool operations.
Lions Pool officially closed on February 27, 2026, following those decisions.
Franklin Pool, however, still faces additional challenges. The facility needs to be evaluated for a possible leak issue, and the cost of repairs—and whether it can fully reopen—has yet to be determined.
For now, the newly approved funding is only expected to cover the 2026 season, and the long-term future of both Lions Pool and Franklin Pool remains uncertain.