Ella Walter learned to swim at the Mahaska County YMCA. Now, as a senior on the Oskaloosa High School girls swim team, she is preparing to spend part of her final season in a brand-new pool built for the next generation of Oskaloosa swimmers.
“I learned how to swim here, and I’ve been swimming in the old pool my entire life,” Walter said. “So it’s definitely a lot of nostalgia.”
But Walter is just as excited about what comes next. The YMCA’s new aquatics space will bring more lanes, more room for practices and expanded opportunities for swim lessons, exercise programs and community use.
“I think it looks really nice, and I think we’re all really excited to swim there,” Walter said. “I think it’ll be a really cool thing to have for my senior year.”
The project is nearing completion. Mahaska County YMCA interim director Dave Phelps said both pools have been filled and the chlorine systems are operating as crews work through final details and inspections. Major completion is anticipated by Aug. 28, with a community grand opening planned for Sept. 12.
“It’s exciting to walk by the pool to see it nearing completion,” Phelps said. “Right now it’s detail work.”
The new facility includes two pools designed for different types of use. The competition pool has six 25-yard lanes, two more than the four-lane pool at the Third Street location. Each lane is also wider than the lanes in the existing pool. The competition pool reaches 9 feet, 6 inches at its deepest point.
The aquatics area also includes men’s, women’s and family locker rooms with direct access to the pools, making it easier for swimmers and families to move between changing areas and the water.
For younger children, the splash pad will provide an early introduction to water play and help families build comfort around the water before children are ready for swim lessons.
Mahaska County YMCA Program Director Alex Anderson said the pool is regulation length for high school competition. Anderson said a state meet requires eight lanes, but the six-lane facility can host high school competition and could also be used by college teams.
For Walter, the extra space could make an immediate difference in practice.
“I think that’ll also make practice a lot easier for high school and for YMCA, because we have a lot of people on the Y team,” she said. “So then we can spread out more and have more efficient practices.”
The second pool is designed for recreation, lessons and water exercise. It includes two 15-yard lanes and reaches about 4 1/2 feet at its deepest point. The recreation pool is expected to be kept at about 84 degrees, while the competition pool will be maintained at approximately 79 to 81 degrees. The warmer water will support programming for younger children and other users who benefit from a recreation pool.
Having two bodies of water is what YMCA leaders say will change the most about how the facility can serve the community.
“We can run swimming lessons at the same time we run swim team or lap swimming, so we’re going to have opportunities to do way more because of two bodies of water,” Phelps said.
Anderson said the new setup will allow programs for different age groups to operate at the same time. A senior water exercise group could use one pool while the high school team, YMCA Dolphins or other swimmers practice in the other.
“You can double the amount of pool time for everyone,” Anderson said.
Planned programming includes deep-water and shallow-water aerobics, parent-and-baby lessons, parent-tot lessons, private and semi-private lessons, group lessons, lifeguard courses, homeschool swim lessons and practices for the Oskaloosa High School girls and boys teams and the YMCA Dolphins. The YMCA is also exploring a cardio aqua class.
The additional space will be paired with expanded access. Anderson said the YMCA is planning noon lap-swim opportunities, evening open swims on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and weekend open-swim hours. Community members who are not active with the YMCA will be able to use the facility by purchasing a day pass.
The expanded capacity comes as local interest in competitive swimming is growing. Anderson said the YMCA Dolphins had 54 swimmers in 2023, 74 in 2024 and 88 last year. She expects the team to surpass 100 swimmers this year.
The program is also drawing participants from outside Oskaloosa, including swimmers from Eddyville, Ottumwa and New Sharon.
“Swim Team Parents, Coaches, kids. They’re all great, and they continue growing the program and making it successful,” Anderson said.
For Oskaloosa High School swimmers, the timing gives this year’s team a unique place in the transition. Phelps said the high school season will begin at the Third Street location before practices move to the new facility as soon as regular operations begin there.
Walter said being part of one of the final teams to use the old pool is bittersweet. She remembers swimming there as a child while attending YMCA day care, then returning year after year as a competitive swimmer.
At the same time, she sees what the new facility could mean for swimmers who are just beginning.
“I think that’ll start them with a really good foundation of a nice pool to swim in,” Walter said. “They’ll be more prepared for swim meets because a lot of other towns have really nice pools, and I think that we fit in more that way too.”
The transition also gives Walter a chance to experience both sides of Oskaloosa swimming history during her senior season: the pool where she learned the sport and the facility where younger swimmers will build their own memories.
“I think I’m just really overall grateful,” Walter said. “I think a lot of swimmers are grateful, and people in the town in general are grateful for the pool, and I think it’s a really nice addition to the community.”
