Memorial Pool in La Crosse could become a ‘dead pool’

Pool leaks, needs $1000s
in repairs each year

 The future of La Crosse’s Memorial Pool is up in the air again.

The public swimming pool along Campbell Road is nearly 80 years old and needs thousands of dollars in a repair each year and continues to leak water.

The city park board is being asked to consider several options for pools, including a potential $3 million remodel of Memorial.

“For 3 million dollars you can build a pretty nice new pool,” Jay Odegaard with the city parks and rec dept. said.

If a new pool were to be built, Forest Hills Golf Course could be an option, Odegaard mention. Forest Hill did have a pool at one time.

“Do we want to do a complete renovation of memorial pool or do we want to look for a new facility – somewhere that has green space and better parking?” Odegaard asked.

Another option, of course, is to close the pool altogether.

“The pool itself is in constant need of repair,” Odegaard said. “We’re caulking, patching every spring.”

Odegaard says if Memorial does shut down, it might not be replaced, because La Crosse still has two other public pools – Erickson and the Logan Middle School pool.