Each of the members of the Centralia Fairview Park Pool Committee that met for the first time Monday night said they were in favor of the city having a new outdoor pool. Most favored a return to a single round zero-entry pool that would be constructed at the location of the current shuttered pool.
The group named Centralia City Councilman Spanky Smith as its chair.
“I’ve talked to a lot of folks and we have people on this committee that are familiar and worked at the old pool and even the older pool back in the day. I think a lot of folks are wanting to see something like that comeback. I think we are all on the same page where we want to bring a pool or vessel back out here either as a pool combo with splash pad or a little bit of both but at the end of the day it’s of course going to come down to cost.”
And Smith says that cost will likely have to be covered by grants and the possible need for residents to approve a sales tax increase.
The first issue the committee will tackle is the feasibility of a new pool. Each member was given a copy of a study done by Burbach in February 2021 that showed numerous problems with the pool that eventually closed. However, it found with renovation, the bathhouse could potentially be reused. The report’s findings will be discussed at the November meeting.
Economic Development Director Derek Sherman, who is the staff member assigned to the committee, said the resolution creating the committee did not provide a deadline for completing their recommendation to the city council. However, Smith says the council was looking at an eight to 12-month timetable for the committee to do its work.
All seven members of the committee have some ties to the old pool.
- Smith is the former Recreation Director.
- Stephanie Perez was a lifeguard for five years and also worked at the Recreation Center.
- Jacy Keef was also a lifeguard and served on the recreation board.
- Amanda Marshall has two small kids who have traveled to water park facilities around the Midwest.
- Eric Collins serves on the Parks Committee and wants to see a family-friendly facility.
- Jennifer Price said her children worked at the pool and is sick to see what has happened. She feels they have to find a way to keep admission costs down, noting the amounts charged in Salem and Mt. Vernon are too high for the Centralia Community.
- Mickey Martin is a retired city employee who took care of the now-closed pool since the day it opened.
Shuttered Fairview Park Pool Complex. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
