New Dickson Aquatic Center Likely Moving to Jackson Brothers Boulevard

Dickson, TN — The City of Dickson’s proposed aquatic center appears headed for a new location, with city officials saying a move to Jackson Brothers Boulevard could save millions of dollars while helping spur future development on that side of town.

During the Dickson City Council’s Oct. 5, 2026 meeting, city leaders announced that the Jackson Foundation has agreed in principle to donate approximately 16.5 to 17 acres for the aquatic center near Lowe’s and the Tennsco property.

According to city officials, the Jackson Foundation’s board has already voted to donate the property. The city is now waiting for a final legal description of the land before the transfer can move forward.

The potential move marks a significant shift for the aquatic center project, which had previously been planned near the splash pad at Henslee Park.

City Administrator David Travis said discussions about the aquatic center had slowed around budget season as officials took a closer look at rising construction and site development costs at the Henslee Park location.

One of the biggest problems was the amount of site work that would be required.

Officials said excavation costs had become increasingly expensive, while access to the property was also creating complications. Travis said the city was reaching the point where it would have needed to construct essentially a new road along the edge of the property.

Those challenges prompted city leaders to begin looking at alternatives.

At the same time, the city had already been working with the Jackson Foundation on another major project. The foundation previously donated approximately seven acres for the new Fire Station No. 2.

During those discussions, city officials learned that the Jackson Foundation might be willing to donate additional property.

Travis said that possibility led city staff to reconsider whether the aquatic center should remain at Henslee Park.

After discussions with the city’s project team and meetings with the Jackson Foundation, officials identified approximately 16.5 acres along Jackson Brothers Boulevard as a potential new home for the project.

Potential Savings Could Reach Millions

The biggest advantage could be cost.

City officials estimated that moving the aquatic center could save somewhere in the range of $3 million to $6 million in excavation and site development costs compared with building at the Henslee Park location.

The Jackson Brothers Boulevard property is already relatively level, according to officials, and utilities are nearby.

“We think it’ll save us a ton of money in excavation work,” Travis told the council.

Officials described the property as being just beyond Lowe’s, near the Tennsco plant and along a curve on the right of Jackson Brothers Boulevard.

Later in the discussion, officials said the site would require comparatively little preparation and already has access to utilities.

City leaders also pointed to transportation access as another advantage.

From Jackson Brothers Boulevard, traffic can connect toward Marshall Stuart Drive, Old Columbia Road and Highway 46, giving visitors several options for reaching or leaving the facility.

More Than an Aquatic Center

City officials said they believe the project could have an impact beyond recreation.

The city views the aquatic center as a potential anchor for future development along the Jackson Brothers Boulevard corridor.

Officials specifically pointed to undeveloped property between Lowe’s and the animal hospital and said placing a major recreational facility in the area could encourage additional commercial development.

The goal, officials said, would be to create activity in the area that could ultimately attract businesses and generate additional sales-tax revenue.

The new location would also expand the city’s recreational footprint on that side of Dickson.

Officials noted that the area already includes nearby park space and said they believe the aquatic center would add another major public amenity to that portion of the city.

YMCA Discussions Progressing

The city also appears to be making progress on another major piece of the aquatic center project: who will operate it.

City officials said they recently met with representatives from the YMCA for approximately two-and-a-half to three hours and believe they have largely worked out an operating agreement.

Officials said the YMCA supports the proposed new location.

Details of that operating agreement were not presented during the Oct. 5 council meeting, but city leaders suggested more information could emerge as the project advances.

Project Could Begin Moving Faster

The aquatic center had appeared to lose momentum in recent months as the city worked through costs and site issues.

That may now be changing.

Officials told council members they expect the project to begin moving more quickly between now and the end of the year.

While city leaders said they had liked the idea of placing the aquatic center near the existing splash pad at Henslee Park, they now believe Jackson Brothers Boulevard is the stronger long term location.

The combination of donated land, lower site development costs, existing utility access and the potential for future economic development appears to have changed the direction of the project.

If the land transfer is finalized, one of Dickson’s most closely watched public projects will have a new home — and potentially a significantly lower price tag for preparing that home.

City officials are expected to continue working on the land transfer, project design and YMCA operating agreement in the coming weeks.

For Dickson, the move could ultimately accomplish two goals at once: move the long discussed aquatic center closer to construction while using the project to help open another part of the city for future development.