Fergus Falls aquatic center opens strong, posts profit, seeks staff

Kids were back on the slides and in the water at the Fergus Falls Aquatic Center even as morning rain and shifting forecasts hung over opening day. About 347 people visited on June 8, a strong first-day turnout that showed how quickly the pool can become a summer routine stop for families, teens and caregivers once the weather cooperates.

The city opened the aquatic center and splashpad with a grand opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m., then let swimmers in at noon, with admission waived for the day. The pool is now open seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. weather permitting, and 2026 memberships went on sale online April 1. City Recreation Coordinator Pam Muxfeldt said the center is still taking applications for pool managers and lifeguards, with lifeguards required to be at least 15 years old and pool managers at least 21.

That staffing need matters because the aquatic center has become one of Fergus Falls’ most visible warm-weather gathering places. The city is exploring the addition of lap swim and toddler time in 2026, along with a few private events, which would widen the pool’s appeal from young children to adults looking for exercise and parents looking for easier ways to fill a summer afternoon close to home.

The financial picture from last season suggests the facility is doing more than adding a place to cool off. The 2025 season ended with 19,065 visits, $184,224 in admissions and $234,457 in total revenue once concession sales were included. That produced a profit of $77,398, even though the center had originally been expected to lose $125,000.

For city leaders and park officials, that turnaround gives the project a different kind of value. The aquatic center was built as part of a voter-approved local option sales tax effort and was authorized at $10.8 million as an outdoor amenity at Roosevelt Community Park. Construction began in 2024, and the facility opened in 2025 with a zero-depth-entry pool, waterslides, a four-lane lap pool, a climbing wall, changing rooms, showers, lockers and a concession area.

City planning materials said the project was intended to expand recreation opportunities and make use of the region’s limited but favorable summer weather. With the 2026 season now underway, Fergus Falls is asking residents not only to show up, but also to help keep the pool running.