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Now Public: A Design for a Fully Rebuilt Malvern Hills Pool
Now Public: A Design for a Fully Rebuilt Malvern Hills Pool
City Council was shown three pool design concepts, including a full rebuild that preserves the original footprint of Malvern Hills Pool with a true deep end. After weeks of requests, Parks & Rec finally released these designs—yet the polling of Council and decision-making all happened behind closed doors without community input. We are sharing this original design because it reflects what residents have consistently asked for, and it’s critical that as many people as possible see it.
City Council can do better.
Click Here to email City Council to ask them not to downsize Malvern Hills Pool.
City Council: Don't Downsize The Pool!
City Council: Don't Downsize The Pool!
Asheville's Department Parks and Recreation has just unveiled the new design for a smaller, shrunken Malvern Hills Pool without a deep end. Now is when our community voices matter most. Decisions about the pool’s size, layout, and long-term role are being finalized. The proposed plan shrinks the pool from its historic 7,500 square feet down to just 5,369 square feet — nearly a 30% reduction — at the very time Asheville is growing and our largest pool, Recreation Park, has been destroyed by Helene. Once this smaller design is locked in, it will permanently limit how many families can use the pool and will disproportionately impact middle- and lower-income residents who rely on public pools because they cannot afford private memberships. Acting now is essential if we want Malvern Hills Pool to remain a true community-scale resource that provides safe, healthy, and equitable recreation for Asheville’s kids and families.
As our city grows, we need our Mayor and City Council to lead better. Adolescents and teens are struggling with the lack of amenities and recreational opportunities and it doesn't lead to great things.
City Council can do better.
Click Here to email City Council to ask them not to downsize Malvern Hills Pool.
Speak up: demand the same size and footprint as the original pool, including the deep end
Contact the City: Email or call Pete Wall, Assistant Director of Asheville Parks & Recreation at pwall@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 259-5800
What is the REAL occupancy of Malvern Hills Pool?
What is the REAL occupancy of Malvern Hills Pool?
The 2016 Assessment of Malvern Hills Pool by Matthews Architecture P.A. clearly states that the water occupancy of the pool is 150 people - based on a calculation of "50 square feet per the surface area of 7,500 sf." If that is the case, where does the NEW number of 200 people come from? If the pool is being shrunk from 7,500 square feet to 5,369 square feet, the occupancy must be recalculated. Base on the 2016 Assessment, this new occupancy become 5,369/50 = 107.38. So the capacity drops from 150 swimmers down to 107, or 29% less swim capacity.
It would be helpful for Parks & Rec to clarify where the new and highly questionable figures come from.
Stay Up-to-Date Via the Project Page
Stay Up-to-Date Via the Project Page
You can stay up-to-date with the latest developments, including an upcoming Public Engagement phase for Malvern Hills Pool on the Department of Parks & Recreation's Malvern Hills Pool Project Page.
History of Malvern Hills Pool
History of Malvern Hills Pool
Malvern Hills Park opened as Horney Heights Park in 1922. Construction on the pool began in 1934 and was completed the next year using federal New Deal funding. City officials formally dedicated the park, pool, and bathhouse to the community on June 15, 1936.
In 1970, new walls were placed in the pool which reduced its size by seven inches. The same year, a filtration system was installed. Prior to this, the pool was drained and refilled once a week to ensure clean water. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Open Space program funded extensive improvements in 1973 including a complete remodel of the bathhouse, and additional deck space around the pool.
City and neighborhood leaders at the opening of Malvern Hills Pool, June 15 1936.
Young women awaiting the opening of the pool, June 15, 1936.
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