Osborn Aquatic Center’s reopening effort received a $500,000 boost on Monday, September 28, when Travel Oregon announced a competitive grant for the Corvallis School District.
For Travel Oregon, the pool serves as a reason visitors come to Corvallis. Osborn could host competitions that draw swimmers and their families from across Oregon and the West Coast. The agency projects approximately 12 competitive aquatic events in 2028, generating about 2,000 hotel room nights.
(Photo: Osborn Aquatic Center/Travel Oregon)
Visitors could also spend money at local restaurants and shops, particularly from November through April, when tourism is slower. Those event and hotel figures are projections by Travel Oregon, and a big reason the grant money was awarded.
Oregon Tourism Commission Chair Greg Willitts said the grant was intended to help bring events from “across Oregon and the Western U.S.” to the aquatic center.
Corvallis School District Superintendent Ryan Noss said the grant would do more than help reopen the pool. “It will allow our community to welcome competitive swimmers and their families from across the West Coast, providing critical local business support.”
The entire center closed for construction in September and is expected to reopen in the fall of 2027.
The city’s project page currently lists a $1.5 million funding gap. It has not been updated to show how the new grant affects that figure.
This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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