An underused leisure centre "in need of a scrub" would benefit from a cash injection set aside to provide new community facilities, council bosses have said.
Underused space at the Leys Pool and Leisure Centre in Blackbird Leys is set to receive £1.3m funding that will encompass provision of a new youth hub.
Plans also include the building of a new café, climbing wall and a social area.
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Oxford City Council has secured the funding in a partnership bid with Oxfordshire County Council to redevelop part of the Leys Pool and Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road to provide a new youth hub.
Councillors approved plans for the youth hub during a cabinet meeting in September 2023.
Dave Morrell, Oxford City Council leisure manager, said: "We can be happy about keeping all our centres open in Oxford.
"We want to try to reduce barriers for people taking part in leisure activities."
City council cabinet member for housing, Linda Smith, said the sign outside the leisure centre "could do with a bit of a scrub".
Ms Smith said: "As a Labour councillor I would have really like to have seen it brought in-house but unfortunately this was not possible.
"Officers worked really hard to look into all options."
The council approved recommendations last month to transfer operation of the city's leisure services from Fusion Lifestyle to Serco Leisure.
This was despite some resistance from locals who expressed their concern in council meetings at the new multinational company becoming the custodian of Oxford's pools and ice rink.
The Blackbird Leys Pools and Leisure centre contains a "pool with a moveable floor", studio space and gym area as part of its facilities.
Mr Morrell added there was free carparking for three hours but emphasised the council was "not encouraging car use".
Efforts will be made to ensure the new café has "healthy food" but it was noted that "of course people like chips".
The youth hub, which the city council's cabinet approved in September, will aim to "drive positive outcomes for young people", including "improved mental and physical wellbeing" and skills for life and work.
On reducing barriers to participation, Mr Morrell pointed to provision of a ladies-only swimming session and said blinds had been installed to offer extra privacy.
He added: "Sometimes there has to be a male lifeguard but we do our best.
"There is a general shortage of lifeguards which has been a challenge."
A public outburst at Oxford Town Hall followed the decision to appoint Serco as the city's new leisure provider following allusions to its "appalling history".
The current contractor, Fusion, had itself been deemed "utterly chaotic" by some Oxford parents.
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