About the Facility/History

For over half a century, 1950-2001, the Tooele Memorial Pool served the citizens of Tooele City as a place to learn, play, exercise, and compete. The pool was named in honor of Tooele’s War Veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice while defending their country’s liberties.

In 1948, Tooele City and the Tooele City School District presented a plan to voters and a $100,000 bond was approved. Ground was broken on July 15, 1949, with City Manager Dale James serving as project manager. The $130,000 facility, which included the addition of two outside restrooms, opened on August 14, 1950.

The pool was 44 feet wide and 75 feet long, with graduated depth from 3 to 9 feet. It featured a two sided basketball bank board, two diving boards, and a 3-meter metal platform. The popular “high dive” was removed in a 1975 remodeling project.

Spectators viewed the pool from the east end in a balcony. From 1951 until the 1975 remodeling, a wooden ‘catwalk’ balcony hung over the length of the pool. The pool was originally heated with a coal-fired boiler that was later converted to natural gas.

When the pool was opened it was recognized as the finest aquatics facility in the Mountain West. Tooele hosted several major events in the 1950’s and 1960’s, including junior and senior national Intermountain AAU swimming and diving championships, Pan American synchronized swimming qualifications, and nine Utah state high school swimming championships.

Under the direction of Coach Leigh Pratt, Tooele’s swimming programs flourished during these early years and were recognized as the best in the Intermountain region. Tooele High won nine consecutive state championships between 1955 and 1963 as well as several gold trophies in the annual Intermountain AAU Championships.

The Tooele Pool was more than a training ground for championship swimmers. Thousands of children learned and enhanced their swimming skills in American Red Cross classes, Boy Scouts earned merit badges, and citizens kept in physical shape. But perhaps most important, it was a place for children and families to have fun. Although the Tooele Memorial Pool has been replaced, countless memories will linger forever in the hearts of all those who entered its waters.

The Tooele Memorial Swimming Pool was closed forever in March 2001. Being structurally unsound, it was demolished in December of that same year. Construction of a new aquatic center began in May of 2002 and was completed one year later.  The Leigh Pratt Aquatic Center was built in the same location of the former Tooele Memorial Pool.

The Leigh Pratt Aquatic Center was opened in May 2003.  Designed to fit within the setting of Tooele’s historic City Park and the former Tooele Memorial Pool, the Leigh Pratt Aquatic Center replaces a 52 year old facility and demonstrates the city’s commitment to aquatics and recreation. The old facility shut down in 2001 as a result of multiple closures each year due to failures of antiquated systems. The new center not only overcomes these problems, but also provides a state-of-the-art facility for years to come. 

The facility offers aquatic amenities to residents of Tooele and surrounding communities, as well as to Tooele County School District swim teams. Features include a 25-yard, eight-lane competition/lap pool with spectator seating for 500; a 3,500-square-foot leisure pool; and a toddler pool. The leisure pool includes many interesting features, such as a zero-depth entry, a helical slide, an exciting children’s water-play feature, a lazy river and an outdoor sun deck.

The blue-colored glass and metal panels on the building’s exterior project a fun and whimsical appearance that reflects the exhilarating activities that take place within. Bright colors were used throughout the building’s interior, imparting warmth and excitement to the spaces.

The facility is designed to easily accommodate families with the inclusion of family changing rooms. Additional components include a party room, a conference room, an outdoor play-ground and new staff and administration offices.