Pool battle continues as group prepares to flood city hall today

Not literally

The Grandview Emerson Neighborhood Association is still fighting for Memorial Pool. The group is hoping to pack the house at a public hearing at La Crosse’s city hall today.

“There has to be a lot of creative problem solving for there to be a pool in that location,” association co-chair Jacob Sciammas said. “If people want it, they’re going to have to continue to speak up.”

A study earlier in summer showed fixing pool would cost $4 million and replacing around $4.5 million. 

The city does have between $1 million – $2.5 million set aside for rehab or replacement for the pool in next year’s proposed budget. Those numbers, however, were settled before the pool was given a historical designation earlier this year. And the neighborhood group says it has identified a $2 million to $3 million option to repair the 78-year-old pool. 

When the group first began fighting for the pool, it thought repairs could be done in time for use this summer. Those expectations changed a bit.

“Early on we thought something could be done at a reasonable cost, quickly,” Sciammas said. “I think we’ve learned now that it’s going to be more of a marathon, not a sprint.”

The detailed 56-page report from Burbach Aquatics to the city parks and rec. dept. says it would be more cost-effective to put in a new outdoor pool near the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, than to fix the existing one.

The pool, which has leaked massive amounts of water for years – estimates were originally thought to be around 7,500 gallons a day, but engineers said it’s more like 18,000 gallons – was closed officially mid-May.

Here are just a few of the recommendations from BAI’s report: 

• Replace the failed wall sections, approximately 34 sections.
• Replace areas of deterioration.
• Replace entire pool decking.
• Replace surge tank.
• Replace gutter system.
• Replace main drain system.
• Replace filter system ASAP, safety hazard.
• Replace all pumps.
• Replace/renovate bathhouse to current design standards and building codes.
• Replace mechanical system electrical.