District 3 Aquatics Facility Set to Bring New Public Pool to San Antonio’s South Side Near Mission Marquee
For families living near Mission Marquee Plaza, the Harvey E. Najim Family YMCA and the Roosevelt Avenue corridor, a long-discussed promise is about to take physical shape.
Construction on the District 3 Aquatics Facility is expected to begin this year, marking the transition from planning and public meetings to visible progress on the ground. Funded through the voter-approved City of San Antonio 2022–2027 Bond Program, the project will convert a vacant lot at 3110 Roosevelt Avenue into a new public swimming pool and community recreation space.
Voters approved funding for the aquatics facility on May 7, 2022, allocating $5 million for the development of a new swimming pool and associated amenities within available funding.
Now, nearly four years later, the project is entering the construction phase.
What the District 3 Aquatics Facility Will Include
According to City of San Antonio Public Works Department materials and project filings, the new facility will span approximately 28,679 square feet and include:
- A 3,309-square-foot swimming pool (approximately 3,020 square feet of water surface)
- Zero-entry child lagoon and accessible pool entry
- Sunbathing platforms and lifeguard stations
- A bathhouse and equipment building totaling about 1,820 square feet
- A detached lifeguard building at the main entrance
- Concrete and asphalt paving for circulation and parking
- New lighting, fencing and controlled access points
The updated site plan presented during Public Meeting 3 outlines the configuration of the pool, bathhouse, lifeguard station and parking layout.
Support buildings will include public restrooms with family/adult rooms, infant changing stations and accessible features. Mechanical and chemical storage rooms are designed to meet code requirements and allow for future pool system expansion.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Designed for the Mission District Setting
Because the site lies within the Mission Historic District and Mission Protection Overlay District-2, the design reflects architectural cues from the surrounding Mission Marquee Plaza and nearby civic structures.
Rialto Studio, Inc., the project’s design firm, designed the facility using warm, durable materials — including textured plaster walls, natural stone accents, decorative blockwork and wood-beam features — topped with a metal roof that reflects the look of nearby Mission-area buildings.
The facility’s layout forms a secured perimeter around the pool area, inspired by mission-style compound design. At approximately 19 feet in height, the structure remains well below the maximum allowable height within the Mission Protection Overlay District.
The property, formerly associated with the Mission Drive-In Theater parking area, is currently vacant. City archeological review determined no significant mission-period resources remain on the site.
Construction Timeline: What Residents Can Expect
According to the City’s published schedule, the project has completed its design phase and is advancing toward construction. The previously outlined timeline anticipated construction beginning in Spring 2026 and continuing into Spring 2027.
Separate state filings list a construction start date of September 30, 2026, with projected completion by September 30, 2027.
As crews mobilize later this year, nearby residents can expect typical construction activity, including site preparation, paving work and building construction over the next 12 to 18 months.
Future Phases: Splash Pad and Lazy River
Original bond language included associated amenities such as a splash pad. During schematic design, cost considerations led to adjustments in phasing, with elements such as a splash pad or lazy river identified for future development if funding allows.
Future improvements discussed in planning documents have included:
- Splash pad installation
- Lazy river addition
- Expanded parking
- Shade structures
- Fiber connectivity to Mission Marquee Plaza
City planners have described the aquatics facility as an anchor project, designed to accommodate long-term growth and additional recreational features over time.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Why This Matters for San Antonio’s South Side
Access to public pools in San Antonio plays a critical role during extended periods of extreme heat, which are increasingly common in Bexar County. For District 3 families without access to private pools, this facility will provide a nearby option for water recreation, swim safety exposure and family gatherings.
The project also includes significant landscaping improvements. Because no qualifying trees currently exist on the property, city code requires at least 39 new trees, with additional trees funded through the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund to create a shaded, park-like setting.
Located near the Harvey E. Najim Family YMCA and Mission Marquee Plaza, the aquatics facility strengthens the Roosevelt Avenue corridor as a hub for recreation and community programming.
As work progresses in the months ahead, this South Side bond-funded project will move from site plans to steel, concrete and water — a visible reminder of how voter-approved infrastructure investments translate into neighborhood amenities.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on San Antonio development projects impacting District 3 and beyond.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.