Several Danville aldermen say that they support rehabilitating the current Garfield Park Pool on Danville’s east side rather than replacing it.
Many cite costs as an underlying factor. Rehabilitating the current pool would cost $3.5 million while replacing the entire pool would cost around $10 million, with each option being good for at least 30 years.
Public Works Director Carl Carpenter says deciding the issue this year would mean less time that it is closed.
“The longer we prolong this, the longer the pool’s going to stay closed overall,” he says. “We know it’s closed this year and for sure next year no matter what we do…If we’ve got something to take to an engineering firm, then by 2023 the pool would be open and functioning again.”
Alderwoman Brenda Brown asked that all options still be on the table, including the possibility of adding a lazy river concept to the pool so that more people might want to come.
A number of aldermen said visiting the pool over the past couple of weeks with Carpenter helped them to see what the problems are with the pool, and why it should be closed to the public until repairs are made.
City officials announced earlier this year that the pool would be not open due to major repairs that need to be made. Cracks have appeared in the pool and the gutters are being filled with wooden boards, among other issues.
