A majority of Danville City Council members favor refurbishing the existing municipal swimming pool at Garfield Park instead of building a new pool. In a straw poll taken during the City Council meeting this evening (Tuesday), 8 said they favor refurbishing the present pool while 5 are leaning toward a new pool.
The Danville Municipal Swimming Pool at Garfield Park is currently closed because of some needed repairs.
Alderman Mike O’Kane said if the pool was in a different location it might entice more people to use it. He said streets near the pool are dilapidated and noted there could be environmental issues since there are railroad tracks nearby.
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said, however, that he knows of few people who will not go to the pool because of location. The Mayor also said every park could be an option (if the pool is moved) except for Lincoln or Ellsworth.
Alderwoman Brenda Brown opposes refurbishing the existing pool and would rather see Danville get something new. ‘’Sometimes we hurt ourselves in the long run,’’ said Brown.
Vice Mayor Bob Iverson suggested a lazy river be added along with updating the existing pool….
And Iverson noted that perhaps the city could use some of the money it received from the American Recovery Act to help with the long-term improvements at the pool. But Mayor Williams pointed out Decatur just put in a lazy river at a municipal pool and it cost $3.1 million dollars. The Mayor noted a lazy river would require more maintenance and staff.
Ward 6 Alderman James Poshard favors upgrading the pool at its existing site….
Ward 2 Alderwoman Carolyn Wands also would rather upgrade the existing pool….
City Engineer Sam Cole says the area near the existing pool is historically an industrial area. He says there is a possibility that something could come up if the city attempts to put a lazy river there. Cole says there are no guarantees the city could do it without running into environmental issues.
Mayor Williams released a list showing average costs for municipal pools in Danville, Normal, Urbana, Bloomington, Springfield, Champaign and Decatur from 2017 through 2019. It shows the annual expense for the pool in Danville is $111-thousand-500-dollars, with annual revenues of nearly $55-thousand dollars. The City of Danville contributed nearly $57-thousand dollars annually to operate the pool during that period.
Some city council members say they would like to take a formal vote by August on how to proceed.
