Frequent users of the swimming pool at the McCreary Community Building will have to take a break starting next week. However, once it’s back open, it will seemingly be a completely different facility.
Perry Parks and Recreation Director John Anderson says every four or five years they have to drain the pool to perform a deep clean, which they’ve scheduled to begin this Sunday. However, that’s not the only thing that will be done while the pool is drained. Anderson says there will be several contractors moving in to do a wide assortment of maintenance projects that have been budgeted for this year. Upgrades include: the electrical systems and lights in the pool; regrouting the spa area and showers in the locker rooms; replacing tiles on the pool deck; repairing and repainting the bulkhead; replacing the filter material; and replacing a large butterfly valve. Additionally, the Parks and Rec Department were recently awarded a $2,000 grant from the Bock Family Foundation, which will go towards completely redoing the locker room floors.
Anderson says while the maintenance is progressing, the pool, spa, and locker rooms will all be unavailable to the public, though he’s hopeful it won’t be for long. “So we have it kind of projected to be down for two weeks. All that is depending, though. I mean we’re hoping we can put our heads down to really go to town on it. And I’m really hoping by the end of that first week we’re putting water back in the pool and getting the chemicals right and getting the heat back in the pool water. We have it planned for two weeks, (but) if all goes efficiently and well, possibly Wednesday that following week would be great, so we’ll see!”
Anderson adds, they planned the maintenance to fall in between the Perry High School swim team and the winter rec center swim team seasons, so no programs will be affected by the pool’s closure. To learn more about this and other goings on with Perry Parks and Rec, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.