Sandy City to Rebuild Alta Canyon Sports Center; Outdoor Pool Will Remain

Sandy City will close and demolish the Alta Canyon Sports Center this summer and build a new, larger recreation facility, city officials announced during a poolside briefing.

Mayor Maya Zoltanski and city staff said the existing center, which has served the community for 41 years, will close to the public after the 2026 swim season and begin demolition in mid-August. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Martin Jensen said, "Right now, Mayor, our planned last open date is, August 16," and that demolition and construction will begin on Monday, Aug. 18. Jensen said the plans call for about a year and a half of closure while the new center is built.

The city confirmed the beloved outdoor pool will be retained in the rebuild. "The pool is staying," Jensen said, emphasizing the intent to preserve the pool and its mountain views for future generations.

Jensen described the new building as "about 48,000 square feet," more than double the size of the current roughly 20,000-square-foot facility. Planned amenities include a gymnasium, an indoor field house, fitness equipment, a raised walking track with windows to the east to capture views of the Wasatch Mountains, and dedicated community meeting space that the current center lacks.

Associate Director of Parks and Recreation Jetta Merritt said the city conducted extensive community outreach and has tried to incorporate residents' requests into the design. She said the city will provide a scaled-down set of programs during construction — "some fitness classes, some programs for kids" — to be held off-site at parks and the Parks & Rec building in historic Sandy, with scheduling details to appear on the city's website.

Merritt also said design drawings and a scale model are on display in the Alta Canyon lobby and will be posted online for residents who want to review the plans.

The city framed the project as an investment in community space and recreation. Officials urged residents to visit the center before the August closing and said more information about interim programming and construction timelines will be published online as plans are finalized.