Selectmen begin urgent process to renovate town pool
By Mike Berger
The town has received 40 years of use out of the town pool on Bolivar Street. (Michelle Stark photo)
Canton Playground & Recreation Commission Chairman John McCourt presented an urgent plea to selectmen Tuesday night to begin a planning process to totally renovate the Canton Town Pool on Bolivar Street beginning in September 2019.
The town recently received a long-awaited consultant’s report outlining the deficiencies and the costs needed to bring the pool up to reasonable standards, pegged at approximately $2 million. The Building Renovations Committee read the report and felt that the $1.1 million needed just to patch the pool was not practical given the deteriorating condition of the pool and facility.
McCourt, speaking on behalf of the commission, said the town has received more than 40 years of use out of the pool and recommended a total upgrade, including ADA improvements, parking lot site work, a pool liner, and renovations for drains, bathrooms and showers. The price tag for the entire renovation is steep, with $625,000 needed for design services and an estimated $4.6 million needed for construction.
Selectmen agreed that the current Bolivar Street location is ideal with all utility and foundation work already in place and its proximity to the center of town. A possible concern cited by Feeney are the parking lot improvements and issues raised by the Conservation Commission as the pool is built on an earthen dam linking two ponds.
With the board in complete agreement that a functioning pool is an essential town service, Selectmen Chairman Mark Porter said he would speak with representatives from various town boards with the goal of mapping out a financial plan at the selectmen’s next meeting on Tuesday, July 24.
McCourt emphasized that if the design services report could be ready for the May 2019 town meeting then construction could begin by next September.
One of the possible funding sources for the project is a Community Preservation Act grant. During the FY 2018 funding cycle, the town’s Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) approved a $300,000 request for deck replacement and resurfacing, but the Recreation Commission withdrew the request prior to the May town meeting after receiving the consultant’s report. McCourt said he met with the CCPC earlier this week and received positive initial feedback but not a definite amount of future financing.
Parks & Recreation spent $10,000 on painting and patching just to get the pool ready for this summer. Since its opening on June 23, more than 1,600 people have used the pool excluding summer camps, with annual attendance expected between 5,000 and 7,000 visitors.
“The town pool services is so important to this town,” said Feeney. “It’s for people who are not affluent, who can’t afford or have the opportunity to go to the Cape, New Hampshire, or summer camp. It provides an opportunity for so many to learn how to swim.” Feeney has been instrumental in obtaining ADA funding for the pool with additional ADA upgrades still needed …
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Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=39426
Posted by Mike Berger
on Jul 21 2018. Filed under News, Town Government.
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