MANSFIELD — Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker reiterated Tuesday that Linden Pool, off Milsboro Road, would remain closed this summer due to extensive repair.
Theaker originally planned for the pool, which has been in operation since 1955, to reopen sometime in June or July, but after inspecting the pool’s foundation last week with Astro Pool Company, issues were discovered that made it too dangerous for children and adults.
“For several years, the city of Mansfield has been putting Band-Aids on the pools to keep them open at Liberty and Linden (pools),” Theaker said Tuesday during a press conference held at Linden Pool. “We decided that this year we’re not going to be able to open this pool up because … to make it safe for the kids would be more expensive than building a brand new pool.”
The mayor provided a laundry list of issues the city’s engineering department found upon last week’s inspection.
— Each side of the pool’s walls are caving in.
— Due to a large leak in the bathhouse that contains the pool’s pump, the pool lost 18 inches of water per day.
— The pool’s foundation has washed away due to that leak.
— The pool’s pump motor is outdated and too costly to replace.
The mayor has a connection with Linden Pool. He grew up on Muth Road, which runs adjacent to Donald Court where Linden Pool is located.
“My grandfather owned this land,” Theaker said of the 15 acres that houses Linden Pool. “So this is sentimental, this pool. We were up here every day as kids. It was a hard decision.”
City Engineer Bob Bianchi said he did not know how much it would cost to repair the pool. However, the mayor and Bianchi said an anonymous organization is looking to build a new pool for the city.
“You’re easily looking at a $1.6 million expenditure to construct a new pool,” Bianchi said. “This pool is beyond replacement.”
Bianchi and the mayor declined to comment on which organization is looking at building a new pool. Both the engineer and the mayor did not know where and when the new pool would be constructed.
Bianchi said repairing the Linden Pool is not about the money.
“It’s not about the figures, it’s about the feasibility and constructability,” Bianchi said. “So we’re looking to removing it and starting over.”
He said the pool’s demolition cost could reach up to $50,000.
Liberty Pool, on Grace Street, will remain open through Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Interim Public Works Director Angelo Klousiadis said Liberty Pool is also in “bad shape,” but that it is better than Linden Pool.
“We keep patching it up to the point that it might not do well anymore. We’ll take a look after this season and see where to go,” he said.
Liberty Pool, according to Klousiadis, was built in 1934 as one of the country’s first Works Progress Administration project.
Admission is $1 for children between the ages of 4 and 12 and $2 for adults.
