Greenville's First Winter With a Public Indoor Pool Since 2017

On January 15, 2017, a storm brought down the roof over the Greenville YMCA pool, and that was the last public indoor pool the city had. The Y reopened that June using an outdoor pool for the time being, then closed its building for good at the end of the year, partly because of the storm damage. Six years later, in March 2023, KETR was still describing Greenville as a city "without a public pool since a severe storm destroyed the pool at the Greenville YMCA in January 2017."

That gap ends this season. The Greenville SportsPark Center held its grand opening on August 29, so this coming winter is the first one in nine years with indoor water you can swim in for a $5 day pass. Most of the attention has gone to the six basketball courts, and they matter. The bigger change for the cold months is the part of the building Greenville went without the longest.

Nine winters, counted

The winters of 2017–18 through 2025–26 make nine straight cold seasons with no public indoor pool. During that time, lap swimming, swim lessons, and water exercise either meant driving out of town or waiting for summer.

The new building came out of that gap. In March 2023, the Greenville City Council approved a design contract of nearly $5 million with Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture for a recreation center at the SportsPark, and the early designs already included a pool. Voters approved a $65 million bond package in November 2023 that paid for the 120,000-square-foot complex, according to the Herald-Banner's grand opening coverage. Construction took nearly two years.

When KETR toured the building in July with Parks and Recreation Director Brett Quarles, the station wrote that the aquatic center "fills another gap left after the closure of Greenville's YMCA." Asked what he hoped families would think when they first walked in, Quarles answered, "Good investment."

What the water side holds

The aquatic center is built for more than one kind of swimmer. Here is what KETR and the Herald-Banner described:

• Lap and recreation pools. The city plans to schedule lap swimming and family time so both get dedicated hours.
• A hydrotherapy current channel. This is the feature most likely to bring in people who aren't trying to swim laps.
• A children's play area and a climbing wall on the recreation side.
• A dry sauna, cabanas, locker rooms, and party rooms.

Quarles also told KETR that the building was designed with room to add a larger competition pool later if demand calls for it. So this first winter also tests how much demand Greenville has after nine years without a pool.

The rest of the building supports the same year-round use. The second floor has a three-lane indoor walking track that overlooks both the gym and the pool, plus a fitness floor with cardio machines, strength equipment, and free weights, group exercise studios, and an outdoor fitness terrace. Child watch lets a parent use the track or the lap lanes. Hunt Regional's sports medicine and physical therapy services are part of the building's partnerships.

Regular hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The 5 a.m. weekday opening gives commuters a swim or a walk on the track before work, even on mornings that are still dark.

What a winter of it costs

The membership rates come from the fee schedule in the city code, which the City Council adopted as Ordinance 25-018 on September 9, 2025. These rates were set more than a year ago, so check the current numbers with Greenville Parks and Recreation before you sign up.

Some quick math on the resident rates:

1. Day passes versus a monthly adult membership. The monthly rate is $36, which equals about seven day passes. If you'll come eight or more times in a month, the monthly rate costs less.
2. The trial month. At $30, the trial costs $6 less than a regular adult month. It's a good way to see whether the 5 a.m. lap swim becomes a habit before December.
3. Annual versus monthly. The adult annual rate of $360 equals ten monthly payments, so paying for the year gets you about two months free.
4. The family plan. A couple with one child pays $66 a month on separate memberships. That's less than the $72 family rate. With two children, separate memberships come to $84, so the family plan saves $12 a month. It saves more with each child after that.

Senior rates are half the standard adult rate. A resident 60 or older pays $18 a month, which is less than four day passes.

The fall calendar is already underway

Programs are signed up through the city's ActiveCommunities registration page, and several sessions overlap with the week this post publishes.

In the water:

• Aqua Fit runs in the lap pool. A new session runs from Thursday, October 29 through November 24.
• Youth swim lessons at beginner and advanced levels start their next session November 3 and run through December 1, after the October 1–27 session ends.
• Adult swim lessons run October 3 through November 21.

The November youth session is the first chance for families who missed October. It's also the first full stretch of youth lessons Greenville has had indoors heading into winter since 2017.

On the courts and turf:

• Adult Pickleball League at the center runs October 6 through December 1 and costs $40.
• Adult Indoor Soccer runs on the turf October 8 through December 3 and costs $300.
• 12U boys' recreational soccer is listed at the center October 5 through November 30.
• The Kitchen Chaos Cup Pickleball Doubles Tournament is set for Saturday, November 21.

The six courts also work for volleyball and pickleball, and the gym can host leagues, tournaments, and community events at the same time. If you'd rather book space than join a league, the city rents a full court for $50 an hour and a batting cage for $30 an hour at resident rates. Some leagues are listed at other city gyms, so check the location on each listing before you register.

The building connects to the park outside

The center connects directly to the outdoor Greenville SportsPark. The city lists six softball fields, up to nine soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, batting cages, trails, a playground, a pavilion, and a fishing pond there. KETR also reported new trails and an event lawn. As of July, a skate park and pump track were still under construction.

For nine winters, everything at the SportsPark was outdoors. With the building attached, the same address now works in every season. You can walk the trails on a mild December afternoon and swim indoors when it turns cold. The city's outdoor SportsPark page still mentions construction closures from the building project, so check for current conditions before planning a day around the outdoor amenities.

Nearby amenities like a 5 a.m. lap pool or a $40 pickleball league can shape how a Greenville home fits your week. If you're thinking about a move within Hunt County, Jenn Laws can help you weigh how close a home is to the places you use. Schedule a free consultation.