By Pauline Masson
Officials say it is time to notify residents that the life of the city swimming pool is nearing its end and the city must decide the future.
The city pool, which anchors the entrance to the City Park ,was built in 1980. It features daily swimming in summer and is home to a swim club that attracts huge crowds of swimmers and their families for regional swim meets. But it is old as swimming pools go.
During an October discussion at the board of aldermen meeting, a suggestion to obtain costs to build a new pool expanded into a call for a feasibility study to construct a community center, or recreation complex, that would include a pool, gymnasium, exercise and recreation facilities.
Talk of tackling a project of this scope comes at a time when city finances are generally strong, according to City Administrator Steve Roth.
“Revenues continue to be strong, with positive General Fund sales tax ($103,536) and Ameren gross receipts ($107,046) both coming in quite a bit higher than the same period in recent years,” Roth told aldermen. “Other sales taxes are also strong, in particular Franklin County Prop P.”
But any decision to replace the existing pool or build a larger sports complex would need broad community support, according to acting mayor Herb Adams. He said it was time to inform the public that the future of swimming in Pacific was under review.
This is not a new idea for aldermen. The future of the forty-year-old city pool has been looked at and discussed for several years.
In December 1919 aldermen took a tough look at the condition of the aging pool. After approving $14,000 in immediate repairs they identified an additional $46,000 in repair work needed before opening the pool for the 2020 season.
They looked at a list of long term renovations and needed upgrades to the pool that would cost $1.2 million and were going to be needed soon if it was to continue to serve the community into the future.
A list of upgrades to the pool included a waterslide, basketball goals and volleyball net, a new spray pad with separate filtration and replacing the entire concrete deck at a total cost of $1.8 million.
Even then it was thought a completely new pool might be the best option. At that time it was estimated that to completely demolish the forty-year-old pool and build a new modern swimming pool would cost $3.8 million.
In 2020 former Alderman Carol Johnson said talk of the future was good but there were action the city could take. She asked fellow aldermen to consider expanding the city pool to make it more engaging to small children. She said some child friendly upgrades would entice more families to spend summer days at the Pacific pool rather than travel to upscale swim parks in other cities or to Six Flags.
And she said, the new park and storm water taxes that voters approved could pay to upgrade the swimming experience, especially for young swimmers.
Her comments were triggered by Aldermen Andy Nemeth’t comments that he worried that continuing to repair the pool the city could end up spending money would never be recovered. He said he believed that the swimming pool should be self-sustaining.
Johnson said Pacific families show that they are willing to pay for a good swimming experience. They travel with their children to neighboring swim parks and to Six Flags where they spend much more than the cost of swimming in Pacific.
By last month, aldermen said it’s time to take a serious look at the future of the swimming pool. One aldermen said studying repairs to the existing pool, or building a new a stand along swimming pool, may not be enough.
When Adams called for a discussion with the public about a study to determine the future of the pool, Ward One Alderman Butch Frick said the city should study the feasibility of a complete recreation complex that would include a pool.
He wanted the city to look at the recreation centers in area cities that offer arrays of recreation facilities to the swimming pools.
Large modern swim pool and aquatic centers in Clayton, Brentwood, and Shrewsbury provide amenities for residents but also generate revenue.
At this point it is just a study, but it couldn’t hurt if citizens voice their thoughts on the subject to their aldermen. What do we want? What do we need? What can we afford?
a simple spray nozzle or two over where the kiddie pool used to be would go a long way for the real little ones and their grandparents. shouldn’t cost more than $15,000 to hook up a garden hose on hot days, including the cost of an engineering study and a garden hose and sprinkler.you could easily do this while you form a task force to select members of a pool design committee, which shouldn’t take over 5 years.