Macomb does not want to sink more money into fixing its aging public pool. As a result, the pool won’t open this summer.
An engineer hired by the city found the structural concrete is starting to fail at Glenwood Pool, which also needs a new liner.
Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann told the city council that temporary fixes would cost $315,000, and repairs would be significantly more expensive.
“So it really was time to make the call that the pool was not structurally sound and to close it for this summer,” she said.
Ohrtmann said it’s time to look at the city’s future options for a public pool.
City council member John Vigezzi said Macomb does have options, and he supports exploring one in particular.
“We have the potential of building a sports complex. Tying this in with the sports complex and adding on a pool to this area is a fantastic idea,” he said.
Vigezzi said he wants Macomb to have a public pool. He calls it a quality-of-life issue, and he said making it part of the sports complex might help bring more people to town.
“I think this could be a win-win for us to work together with this new company, tie all this together, and have an indoor complex plus also having an outdoor swimming area,” he said.
Vigezzi said he’s lived in Macomb for more than 20 years, and for more than 20 years he’s heard concerns about the condition of Glenwood Pool.
City council member Dave Dorsett concurred.
He said he has at least nine reports from through the decades about the pool’s condition. He said the community has spent money every five-to-six years to make repairs and keep the pool open.
Dorsett said it’s time to move on from Glenwood Pool.
“It’s tired. It’s old. We had these same problems in 1997. We kicked the can down the road over and over and over again,” he said.
Dorsett said the city has revenue streams today that were not available decades ago, such as the new business development district. City council members say because of that, it is not their intent to use property tax dollars to build a new pool.
Sports Facilities Companies is the consultant working with the city on the proposed economic development project that would include a sports complex, and Mayor Mike Inman said the city has discussed with them the idea of adding a pool to the project.
“They believe that this would work at that facility, that location that we’re proposing,” he said.
The proposed location is at East Jackson Street and Bower Road.
City council members voted unanimously on Monday night to shut down Glenwood Pool for this summer, but it was not an easy vote for Ashley Katz.
She said she has memories of swimming at Glenwood from when she was a child, and now her children have created their own memories there.
“And it breaks my heart to see the possibility of that facility closing,” Katz said.
“However, there is great opportunity ahead of us and a bright future for a pool facility, a modern pool facility that rivals those in our neighboring communities that we see people going to those to visit.”
Like Vigezzi, Katz believes a new pool would draw people into Macomb, where they might also spend money on shopping, dining, and more.
Even without a public pool, the city believes swim lessons can still be provided this summer. The plan is to offer the program at Macomb High School.
Mayor Inman said the possibility of adding a pool to the proposed economic development project will be part of the discussion when the city holds a public meeting on the project at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at the Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 E. Jackson St. in Macomb.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
