Dixon’s Memorial Pool was completed in 1950, a unique patented above ground pool that included a two-tier diving platform and was dedicated by local native and future president Ronald Regan in memory of war veterans.

In 2000 the pool was found to have code violations that were too expensive to repair, and the Dixon Park District closed the pool.  In 2002 a structural evaluation noted that there were excessive leaks.

In 2003 Willett, Hofmann & Associates was contacted by the Mayor and asked to work as a technical advisor to the newly formed Pool Partners Commission in order to find out exactly what would be involved in restoring the pool to current health code and accessibility requirements. 

WHA compiled a list of pool-engineering firms and conducted interviews with pool specialists and historic preservation specialists.  WHA assisted the Pool Partners Commission in the review of the possibility of placing the structure on the National Register of Historic Places. 

WHA conducted a cursory structural and architectural evaluation and coordinated extensive destructive and non-destructive material testing of the pool’s reinforced concrete structure to determine its structural integrity.  

The test results indicated that the pool was savable, and WHA assisted in the preparation of Request for Proposals for engineering services and assisted the Pool Partners Commission in conducting interviews with qualified design firms.

The project was stalled when an advisory referendum to gauge the public’s interest in raising property taxes to repair and operate the pool failed.