More pools in Fort Worth? Here’s what the city’s new aquatics master plan proposes
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Fort Worth could see a dramatic expansion of public aquatics facilities as the 2026 master aquatics plan nears completion.
Recommendations include expanding the number of water facilities to 10 outdoor swimming pools, 46 lap lanes, six spray grounds and four indoor pools.
The Park & Recreation Advisory Board is scheduled to endorse the final plan during a meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 23 at City Hall. The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to adopt the plan at its meeting Oct. 13. The city owns and operates Forest Park Pool, Marine Park Pool & Aquatic Center and the Sycamore Spray Ground. It has partnerships with Eastside YMCA and the William M. McDonald YMCA.
The city projected the Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Stop Six will be completed in 2028. It will offer an eight-lane, 25-yard lap pool and large interactive play area.
The proposed master plan envisions the additions of several kinds of water facilities.
The plan calls for two flagship aquatic centers, one in far north Fort Worth and one in far south Fort Worth. Both would require partnerships with other organizations.
Flagship aquatic centers would be indoor-outdoor complexes for competitive swimming, recreation, fitness, therapy, and training. The centers would host regional events while supporting year-round community use, according to the city.
The plan calls for two indoor community aquatic centers, one in a northwest Fort Worth partnership and the other in far west Fort Worth. These centers would be built on the same sites as city community centers and complement the centers’ gyms, fitness centers and programming rooms.
The city wants two signature aquatic centers that would serve as large-scale outdoor aquatic parks designed around Fort Worth’s character and culture. The plan proposes constructing such centers in far north and southwest Fort Worth, upgrading an existing center in central Fort Worth. An existing one in central Fort Worth would remain.
The plan calls for three outdoor community aquatic centers, which are medium-sized buildings designed for community needs, featuring leisure and lap pools.
The plan calls for new six spray grounds throughout the city that feature inclusive, zero-depth water play.
Funding would come from future bond programs and other sources.
Two of the city projects are funded. The Martin Luther King Jr. project is in design. And voters approved an aquatics center for North Z Boaz Park in west Fort Worth as part of the 2026 bond program.
“The type of aquatic facility planned for North Z Boaz Park has not yet been determined,” parks department spokesperson Karen Stuhmer said. “The decision will be based on programming needs, public input and available funding.” The Northpark YMCA in far north Fort Worth also will see its water amenities expanded in partnership with the city as part of the aquatics master plan, Stuhmer said. Those haven’t been determined yet.
Tekisha Hobbs is a member of the Fort Worth Report Documenters crew.
Scott Nishimura is senior editor for local government accountability and a Fort Worth City Hall reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Reach him at scott.nishimura@fortworthreport.org.
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