CARLSBAD — After more than four decades, the Monroe Street Pool is set to receive a significant overhaul following the Carlsbad City Council’s Sept. 12 approval of a $23 million renovation project.
The improvement plan aims to modernize the aging facility next to Carlsbad High School while ensuring compliance with current health, safety and building codes.
The new design includes a larger 33-meter pool with 50% more lanes, providing increased capacity for swimmers. An expanded pool deck will feature new outdoor lockers and showers, and locker rooms will be fully renovated.
Other upgrades include family restrooms, additional shaded areas, more bleachers, and expanded parking spaces. A new outdoor entrance will improve access to the pool, eliminating the need for visitors to pass through the lobby and locker rooms.
The City Council has already approved $4.8 million for the Monroe Street Pool renovation project, but an additional $18.16 million is required to fully fund construction. Once underway, the work is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.
In 2020, the city received feedback from 944 residents on Monroe Street Pool renovation options. The majority of respondents highlighted priorities like a larger pool, more lap swimming availability, and increased solar power. The majority of responses came from District 1, with input gathered on features, timelines and costs.
In response to neighbors’ concerns, the project also includes the construction of an 8-foot wall along Monroe Street, equipped with metal gates to reduce noise. The facility will also benefit from expanded solar power, aligning with the city’s commitment to sustainability.
The updated design reflects feedback gathered from community members, who expressed a desire for more space and modern amenities, balanced with a focus on minimizing the impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
The Monroe Street Pool has been a staple of the Carlsbad community for decades, serving as a hub for swim lessons, fitness routines, and sports training. The renovation is part of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which emphasizes maintaining Carlsbad’s unique community character.
Under Proposition H, the project’s $23 million budget required voter approval in 2022, as the city charter requires voter approval for projects exceeding $1 million in general city funds.
City officials will now begin the bidding process for construction, with work expected to start next year and take approximately 18 months to complete.
The project will likely begin in February after planned repairs and renovations at the Alga Norte Aquatic Center are finished to ensure that a public pool remains available during construction. Starting in November, Alga Norte will be closed for three months to renovate its restrooms, locker rooms and pool surfaces.
Monroe Street Pool Renovation and Replacement Project:
- Larger, reconfigured pool with 50% more lanes;
- 8-foot sound barrier wall with metal gates along Monroe Street to reduce noise for nearby residents;
- Expanded pool deck featuring outdoor lockers and showers;
- Renovated locker rooms;
- Additional shade structures and increased bleacher seating;
- Larger parking area;
- New outdoor entrance for competition events, bypassing the lobby;
- Family restrooms;
- Revamped lobby, first aid station, and administrative offices, plus a multi-use room for meetings or small events;
- Complete overhaul of pool infrastructure, including new tile, plaster, piping, drainage, pumps, and deck;
- New pool equipment facility with a separate entrance for service vehicles to free up parking space
- Upgraded solar systems, replacing the solar water heating and adding rooftop solar panels for electricity generation.
Further details, including project updates and community meetings, can be found on the Monroe Street Pool webpage.
