By Ben Watson
The Centralia Pool Committee has reviewed a study completed on the current non-operational pool in Fairview Park and determined it is not salvageable.
The Burbach Study found drainage issues, deterioration of the walls as a result of poor quality concrete, and weak spots that resulted in a loss of 240,000 gallons of water per month when the pool was operating.
With that determination, the committee began sharing ideas for the future of the pool as well as alternatives. Such ideas included rebuilding the old pool that featured the fountain in the middle, creating a hybrid pool/splash pad, and many others. The committee took into account a number of issues while discussing these ideas, such as finances, price, poverty rate, and the features of pools in surrounding areas.
After the ideas were on the table, the committee decided that an open forum should be held sometime early next year so that the community can discuss what they would like to see in a new pool and the challenges that could potentially limit what the committee can do. The date for the forum has not yet been set.
