Echo Hollow Pool & Fitness Center

Hi! Yes, Echo Hollow Pool is on track to open this spring, and we are using the Oregon risk and protection framework guidelines to determine what we can offer at all of our facilities. We lowered to "high risk" on Tuesday, meaning we have some increased capacity, but we are still assessing what that means. As for Echo Hollow specifically the plan will be to allow swimming in the outdoor pool just like we currently do at Amazon Pool and then as the risk and protection framework allows, we'll open up other parts of the facility. We have a ton of fun things planned for the end of the renovation so follow us on social media!

Hi! The renovation at Echo Hollow is getting closer to complete but we can't yet commit to anything more firm than spring of 2021. Reopening will be contingent upon the Governor's orders, so we won't know when we'll be out of the state's extreme risk level. We can promise that we will communicate all of this broadly and with plenty of notice to give our patrons time to plan!

Thank you for your question. Due to the limited indoor space at Echo Hollow Pool & Fitness Center, we unfortunately were never able to consider a warm water pool as part of the renovations. We do hope that upcoming renovations at Sheldon Pool & Fitness Center might be able to include a warm water pool. We will be holding Sheldon Pool public engagement sessions next month and this will be one of the potential enhancements that is discussed.

Thank you for your feedback on the Echo Hollow Pool expansion. We are sorry to learn that you did not hear about our community feedback sessions that were held on March 13, 2019 and October 16, 2019. These meetings were publicized through our Eugene Rec e-newsletter list (signup available at getrec.org), our Eugene Rec and Echo Hollow Pool Facebook pages, direct communication with pool patrons and local swim teams, and media outreach that resulted in TV coverage of the events. We also collected community feedback through an online survey in March 2019, publicized through these same channels. We received significant input from community members throughout the process, including residents with disabilities.

The decisions surrounding the addition of pool lanes and the rec pool were made in response to community input regarding functionality and versatility of the pool spaces to allow for as many programming uses of the pools as possible. These uses include lap swim, competitive swim, fitness programs, swim lessons and a seasonal recreation pool with spray water features.

Regarding your inquiry about the nature of the building improvements, solar array and locker rooms:

• The Solar Array is incorporated into the project because of an Oregon State Law that requires public entities spend 1.5% of public building construction costs on green energy technology (ORS 279C.527) for major renovations. 
• The locker room upgrade is a result of the code requirements for the numbers of fixtures (sinks, toilets, showers).  We are adding pool space with the addition of a recreation pool and additional lap lanes, which by code, requires additional fixtures due to the increased occupant loads.
• Building upgrades are necessary to replace systems at the end of their lifecycle that are very old and risk failure without renovation, as well as to address energy efficiency issues and meet energy code requirements. Echo Hollow Pool is nearly 50 years old, and we must ensure it can continue to serve the community for years to come. These upgrades include energy efficient lighting, plumbing replacements, pool equipment replacements for indoor pool and new equipment to support the additional pool area added outside.  The lobby space addition is included to increase safety and visibility for staff members at the front desk, and to allow additional family change rooms to be built and accessed from the travel path between the front door and pool deck (where staff offices and desk are currently located).

The final designs have been completed and are currently being incorporated into the construction bidding process, so unfortunately there is no longer opportunity for additional public input into the design. We will begin the public input process for renovations at Sheldon Pool in early 2020.