> I have a python web app that creates a DB connection per request (not ideal I know)

FWIW, "one per request per connection is bad" (for SQLite) is FUD, plain and simple. SQLite's own forum software creates one connection per request (it creates a whole forked process per request, for that matter) and we do not have any problems whatsoever with that approach.

Connection pools (with SQLite) are a solution looking for a problem, not a solution to a real problem.

Where can I read more about this? I use connection pools with SQLite, I’m interested if I can simplify.