New Memorial Pool may open later than planned

Maybe it wasn’t the best winter to try building a swimming pool.

That’s what the interim head of the La Crosse park and rec. department told the city council, in a progress report on Memorial Pool.

Jay Odegaard does expect the rebuilt pool on the UW-La Crosse campus to reopen this year, but maybe not in time for the start of outdoor swimming season in early June.

Odegaard said there were some setbacks in renovating the 1930s bathhouse next to the pool.

Crews, however, have been able to retain much of the historic interior of the building.

The $3 million project is a renovation of the old outdoor pool, which was closed a few years ago when it wouldn’t retain water.