Patton Pool and Whitmire Center Fall 2025 Update

Following the damage sustained at Patton Pool and the Whitmire Activity Center by Hurricane Helene, the Hendersonville City Council has been determined to reimagine these public amenities in ways that serve community needs, capitalize on available FEMA funding, and rebuild in ways that are more resilient against future flooding events.  

At their October 22 and November 5 meetings, City Council members provided important direction for the scope of these community investments. The guidance was the result of widespread stakeholder engagement and made in collaboration with consultants with CPL, FEMA, and City budget staff to evaluate the projects through thoughtful programming, sustainability, resiliency, accessibility, and financial lenses. 

“Patton Pool and the Whitmire Center have served generations of Hendersonville and Henderson County families,” said Mayor Barbara Volk. “A silver lining of Hurricane Helene is that is has given us an opportunity to design these facilities in ways that will support recreation for residents for decades to come.”  

Council began goal setting in early 2025 followed by multiple stakeholder meetings, two community input sessions, and an online survey. Council members were faced with competing desires from special interest groups, rebuilding on challenging, flood-prone sites, and uncertainty on the amount of funding available and the requirements that must be met to receive federal reimbursement, and the pressure that comes with a municipality of only 16,000 residents supporting and financing the only public pool in all of Henderson County. 

“We have the opportunity to restore Patton Pool to the community,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Hensley, who has been a champion for swimming education programs and ensuring access to pools. She explained that the City had good meetings with potential partners. Although the County was not interested in participating in the pool project, the YMCA plans to construct an indoor, 25-yard pool that could be used for competitive swimming.  

Patton Pool 

City Council agreed to move forward with plans for an outdoor, seasonal pool complex that would build a 50-meter outdoor pool and a recreational swimming area. The pool would be brought out of the floodplain and meet outdoor competitive swim needs along with recreational pool amenities. 

 
Whitmire Center 

Council directed staff to proceed with a design that would rebuild the Whitmire Activity Center and maintain a large, flexible recreation space and rooms for multi-generational use. Council members opted for the rebuild option of an 8,300 square foot community center that shifts the building footprint and raises it out of the floodplain. To accommodate the flood resiliency measures, and be eligible for FEMA money, tradeoffs were necessary in the site amenities; however, seven shuffleboard courts as well as trail restrooms are able to be included in the design. Natural interactive play elements in the site’s greenspace complement the site’s stormwater retention needs. 

Next steps will include working with the architects on specific designs and continuing to work with FEMA on receiving recovery funding for the projects.