Officials decide to close Warsaw pool for good due to cost of replacement

WARSAW ? The Village of Warsaw and River View Community Park have decided to not pursue construction of a new community pool.

The decision was made in January to close the pool for the 2024 season. It was discovered last fall the infrastructure of the swimming pool was beyond repair and in need of total replacement.

Since that time, Mayor Ed Kent formed a committee to explore the potential for removal of the existing pool and construction of a new facility. With the help of the village administrator, engineer and many others, it was determined the overall cost for the project would be about $3 million. This would not include any new features or even replacement of apparatuses now, but just the pool and pump house.

Furthermore, the consensus among many people familiar with grant funding at the federal, state and local levels was that it would be unlikely for many funding sources to consider the project given the limit to usage throughout the year, dwindling attendance and financial operating losses documented over recent seasons.

Additionally, with the difficulty faced in hiring certified lifeguards and remaining competitive with wages, the operational difficulties experienced would still be a challenge even with a new pool, said park board president Jesse Fischer in a press release.

"We have taken pride in the fact we have maintained this pool well beyond its life expectancy and we felt great responsibility to the founders of the park and numerous contributors throughout the years to continue operations as long as possible," Fischer said. "Since opening in 1969, the pool has provided countless memories for kids, parents and grandparents throughout our community. For many, it was the first job they had as a teenager and was a great experience as they worked towards graduation."

Fischer said they are gathering estimates and seeking funding for the removal of existing structures, which could be tens of thousands of dollars. Town hall meetings are being planned for public input on what the space could be used for in the future.

"As our former Mayor Ron Davis is fond of saying, nothing or nobody is ever really gone as long as we remember them. And for the River View Community Pool, its memory will live on through us," Fischer said.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: River View Community Park pool in Warsaw permanently closed