Hillsboro Weighs Two Aquatic Projects Near $50 Million
City staff are considering expanding SHARC's outdoor pool or building a new aquatic facility at Hidden Creek, with no funding source yet identified.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Swimming
Live Poll
Should Hillsboro spend about $50 million on a new aquatic facility?
Hillsboro's Parks & Recreation Commission reviewed two potential aquatic projects at an Oct. 22 meeting, each estimated at roughly $50 million. The city has not identified how it would pay for either project.
Why it matters
SHARC is the city's only city-operated public aquatic center, and a draft assessment identified about $70.6 million in repairs over 20 years. City staff have named renovating and expanding SHARC as the department's top priority.
The draft assessment puts SHARC's 20-year repair needs at $70.6 million, with $37.4 million tied to the outdoor pool's leaking basin and deteriorating deck. Staff estimate the SHARC expansion at $47.8 million, with a projected annual operating shortfall of $687,000.
The players
Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Commission
The city advisory body that reviewed the two aquatic projects at its Oct. 22 meeting and will receive a funding options report in December.
Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center (SHARC)
Hillsboro's only city-operated public aquatic center, located at Shute Park, whose outdoor pool is under consideration for expansion and enclosure.
The details
One SHARC option would enlarge the outdoor pool to increase capacity by about 70% and enclose it for year-round use. The Hidden Creek concept calls for a leisure pool with zero-depth entry and a four-lane lap pool at a community center that opened in 2020 without a swimming pool.
Timeline
2008: Voters rejected a $44.5 million recreation and parks bond measure, scaling back Hidden Creek pool plans.
2020: Hidden Creek Community Center opened to the public without a swimming pool.
Oct. 22, 2026: The Parks & Recreation Commission reviewed the two potential aquatic projects.
December 2026: City staff plan to return to the commission with a funding options report.
Roadmap
The current proposals revisit an aquatic ambition scaled back after voters rejected the $44.5 million recreation and parks bond measure in 2008. The city's push now centers on SHARC, which staff have named the department's top priority.
Residents who rely on SHARC's outdoor pool may see changes to its capacity and season, depending on which option the city chooses. Hidden Creek residents currently have no nearby swimming pool, and that could change if the Hidden Creek project moves forward.
The takeaway
Pool projects of this scale depend on funding decisions that have not yet been made, so the December funding options report will be the key next signal. Residents interested in the outcome can follow the Parks & Recreation Commission's agenda.
What happens next
City staff plan to return to the Parks & Recreation Commission in December 2026 with a funding options report for the two aquatic projects.
Further reading
Explore more Hillsboro swimming coverage for context on local pool access and facility plans.
Live Poll
Should Hillsboro spend about $50 million on a new aquatic facility?
