Winchester's Indoor Pool: What's Next for Aquatics at Jim Barnett Park?

Winchester Parks & Recreation Director Chris Konyar joins Janet to discuss the future of the city's indoor pool — and why your input matters right now.

What's the issue? The War Memorial building's older wing dates to 1957, and the indoor pool itself was installed in 1975. By 2029–2030, the city will face a mandatory renovation: new roof, HVAC, locker rooms, and the pool itself.

Three concepts on the table:

Concept A – Fix and upgrade the existing pool (ventilation, spectator space, pump room). City-only. Est. $8–10M.
Concept B – Add a second body of water within the existing footprint, expanding programming capacity and accommodating the area's growing number of high school swim teams.
Concept C – A full regional aquatic facility, potentially incorporating the outdoor pool into a larger indoor/outdoor complex. Requires regional partnerships (Frederick County, Clarke County, Shenandoah University, local swim clubs, etc.) to share costs — and could unlock private fundraising.

Why it matters beyond city limits: The Winchester pool already functions as a de facto regional pool, hosting teams from Handley, Millbrook, James Wood, and Sherando. A fifth high school is on the way. Shenandoah University is exploring adding Division III swimming. The survey is open to everyone in the region — not just city residents.

Take the survey: winchesterva.gov/aquatics All feedback is welcome — even if you never use the pool. That data is just as valuable.

Questions? Call Winchester Parks & Recreation directly: (540) 662-4946 The process is fully transparent.