The City of Rock Port Board of Aldermen, along with the Rock Port Park Board, held a joint special meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023, to discuss the future of the Rock Port City Pool.

The Park Board’s plan for this year had been to put a liner in the pool to help with the loss of water and to slow down the deterioration of the pool until they could get more funding. However, it lead to other problems that the pool is facing and that is the guttering system. In order to install the liner, the gutters need to be fixed, but the cost to replace the gutters is in the neighborhood of $225,000 and the cost to patch the holes that they can find is estimated to be $40,000 to $50,000.

The Park Board received some constructive feedback at the town hall meeting and has come up with a plan.

This summer, the pool will open “as is” as long as no major hiccups occur. The wading pool is getting some TLC at the moment. The city is working hard to repair a few leaks and install a new pump and filter that creates a new filter system for the baby pool. The water from the baby pool and big pool will be separate.

The rest of what was originally going to happen this summer is being moved to next summer to allow the Park Board time to raise the funds to replace the gutters and complete the project in the appropriate order.

There will be three big things coming in the summer of 2024 with the community’s support. This will include all new gutters, a pool liner, and a new slide. The pool liner and new guttering will be a solution that carries a warranty of 10 years (some pools with this liner report much longer).

The Park Board is asking the community for help in raising $240,000. The city pool is a crucial part of the town and provides so much for everyone here.

The following are a few ways you can help:

•  Volunteer to help with fundraising or send us fundraising ideas

• Participate and support current and upcoming fundraisers

• Make a donation (these can be made at Citizens Bank & Trust or online)

• Spread the word

If you have any questions or ideas, contact one of the Rock Port Park & Pool Board members.