City hopes to break ground this fall on new Hyde pool, Northside Splash Park

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- St. Joseph is ready to make the plunge on construction of two new aquatic facilities in the North and South ends, a highly-anticipated boost for the city's long-term pool landscape.

Parks officials and design teams have been making headway this summer on final designs for a new $2 million Northside Splash Park and $3.7 million Hyde Park shallow activity pool.

The Hyde pool project also includes construction of a new $1.5 million pool house for community members, a multi-use facility that will include concessions, community rooms for gatherings and birthdays, as well as spaces for lifeguards and park staff.

"All three sets of plans and designs are done. Our engineering team has them now. They're going through the plans just to make sure that everything we needed is there," St. Joseph Parks Director Jeff Atkins said. "Maybe another month and they'll be ready to go out for bid."

Once the bidding process is complete, Atkins said the hope is to begin construction at both sites this fall. The goal is for both facilities to be open around summer of 2026.

While final designs have yet to be released to the public, the Northside Splash Park will feature a nature-based theme that ties with the greenery and stone structures of Krug Park just across the street. Krug Park is in the midst of a historic $11.7 million renovation project as well.

One of the top features of the Northside Splash Park will be a hillside slide, an homage to Krug Park.

The Hyde aquatic project will include a 3-feet-deep activity pool similar to the one at the Aquatic Park. The facility is expected to have a central play structure and deck space both in and out of the water for multi-purpose use.

Once open, the Hyde pool will charge an admission fee unlike the Liberty Oak Splash Park. The city is currently working on a system where families and children can conveniently access both aquatic facilities, whether with some form of wristband or other item.

New aquatic facilities will be a welcome addition for local residents and the city's aquatic landscape, which has seen a number of facilities shutdown in recent years due to costly upgrades for aging facilities and declines in pool attendance.

St. Joseph currently has the Aquatic Park, Thomas Eagleton Pool at Missouri Western and the Liberty Oak Splash Park open for residents.