Juniper Swim & Fitness Center

You shouldn’t host swim meets here if you don’t have the capacity. We traveled for a meet and couldn’t even be in the pool area. I understand a lot of the kids live here but a lot are traveling for a meet that I’m literally sitting in the hallway for.

ETA: we were kicked out of the hallway and told to wait in the 80 degree heat or in our cars in the 80 degree heat.

Can I give zero stars?

Bend’s Aquatic Crisis – One Pool for Four High Schools Is Unacceptable

Let’s shine a light on a massive problem for Bend families: We have ONE public pool serving an entire city, and it’s about to be closed for nine months.

Read that again. One pool. Four high schools. Four swim teams. Multiple water polo teams. A competitive swim club. A water polo club. Thousands of kids. All sharing Juniper Swim and Fitness Center.

Who are we kidding? We can do better.
The Reality:
• Summit High School swimmers
• Mountain View High School swimmers
• Caldera High School swimmers
• Bend Swim Club athletes

• Water polo programs across all schools, including Bend waves water polo club
• Families trying to teach their kids to swim
• Everyone competing for limited pool time at ONE facility

And now Juniper is closing for renovations for nine months. Where do these kids go? Where do these programs train? What happens to water safety education in a city surrounded by rivers and lakes?

This needs to change.

Bend has exploded in population. We’ve added neighborhoods from Northwest Crossing to Southeast Bend. We’ve built new schools. We’ve expanded infrastructure everywhere – except aquatics. Our kids deserve better. Our families deserve better.
Here’s what I’m asking as a Bend real estate broker, parent, and fourth-generation Oregonian:

Who do we talk to at BEND PARKS AND REC or the City of Bend to begin exploring long-term solutions for aquatic sports and family swimming?

Do we need a second public pool?

A dedicated competitive aquatic center?

Partnerships with schools, COCC, OSU Cascades, bend parks and rec, a private entity, to build facilities?

I don’t have all the answers, but I know the current situation is unsustainable.

Action Items:
• Contact Bend City Council
• Reach out to Bend Parks & Recreation District
• Engage with Bend-La Pine Schools administration
• Rally community support for aquatic facility planning

Bend can build luxury resorts and golf communities, but we can’t provide adequate pool access for our kids? That’s not the Bend I want to live in.

Let’s do better. Let’s build better. Let’s advocate for our families.

If you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or community member who cares about this issue, let’s start the conversation. Comment below or reach out. Change starts with speaking up.

Who’s with me?