LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It turns out one of the city's four outdoor pools may open up this summer after all.
Councilwoman Cindi Fowler, D.-District 14, is hoping to open the pool at the Sun Valley Community Center in two weeks on July 15.
"District 14 doesn't have much," Fowler said. "We've got a community center. We've got a golf course and we've got a pool. We've got the Metro Arts Center. I'm not willing to lose those things if we can stop that from happening."
According to Fowler, a private contractor has already been hired to work on repairing and repainting the pool. Fowler has also put out a call for people interested in lifeguard training, which will take place next week.
"I have turned, I think, seven into Parks so far and I've got more to turn in that I saw," she said.
Fowler said Sun Valley Pool will likely need seven lifeguards to operate. She said her district will be paying the $200 training fee for anyone who is committed to working at Sun Valley. According to Fowler, there is a need for lifeguards throughout the city, including the YMCA and Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, and so once Sun Valley's positions are filled, there will be other opportunities elsewhere.
According to Fowler, the project will cost around $25,000 for opening costs, which includes the repainting, and $15,000 in operating costs, which includes training and paying the lifeguards. Without the Metro budget specifically funding the pools this year, Fowler is using capital infrastructure accounts (CIF) and neighborhood development funds (NDF) from District 14 to get the pool open for part of the summer.
"I want people to know that those neighborhood development funds are the very thing that is needed here," she said. "This is the reason we have those funds is to make sure we can get things done."
The budget does have an allotment for 2020 to take care of deferred maintenance. Fowler said she would be able to use those funds if there is a problem with the pump once the pool is finished with preparations.
According to Fowler, she has also received a lot of community support for her effort. She said Zoeller Pump Company on Cane Run Road donated a pump to the pool to help.
Fowler said while she is hoping to open the pool this year, she and other councilmembers are exploring other options to be able to prevent future closures, especially as the budget cuts are likely to continue in the near future as the state works on solving its pension problem. SHe said one of the options being discussed is partnering with a foundation or starting a foundation for the pools and then get sponsorships from the public.
Anyone interested in the lifeguard training must be 16 years or older. Classes will be from July 1 through July 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Interested applicants can contact Fowler's office at 502-574-1114 or by email at cindi.fowler@louisvilleky.gov.
Contact reporter Dennis Ting at dting@whas11.com. Follow him on Twitter (@DennisJTing) and Facebook.
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