The Original Thompson Park Pool Was Built In 1924 And Was One Of Three City Pools At The Time
Opening in 1924, the Thompson Park Pool was ideal for a hot summer day. Nestled within the park, built on land donated to the city by John C. Thompson, who remained anonymous until the city honored him posthumously by naming the then-known “City Park” after him.

At the time of its construction, there were two other pools in the city: the St. Mary Street and the Grand Avenue Pools. The Grand Ave pool, located on what was to become part of S. Pleasant Street, would close permanently upon the opening of the Thompson Park Pool. According to the Watertown Daily Times, residents around the Grand Avenue Pool declared it a nuisance.
In 1929, the John Q. Adams Pool would open on the Northside next to North Jr. High School. The St. Mary Street Pool closed permanently after the new pool opened, as it was only a couple of blocks away, located halfway up the hill on the right-hand side.
In the mid-2010s, the Thompson Park Pool closed for over five years as skyrocketing costs for repairs had city council members looking at proposals for a new pool. After initial proposals went $1.6 million over budget, plans were finalized to build a new $3.1 million pool. As a result, the Thompson Park Pool, already closed for four-plus years at that point, was demolished in 2019.
The new Thompson Park Pool officially opened on August 14, 2020.