Maintenance issues cause Princeton pool to close for repairs | News

PRINCETON, IN (WFIE)- There's one less way to cool down from the heat in Princeton. A water line problem has closed the public pool.

Princeton Mayor Bob Hurst says the pool is well over 50 years old, so these maintenance repairs mean one thing, the pool is just showing its age. He says that a new pool is definitely in future plans.

It's a busy day for kids and a few big kids at the Princeton Splash Park.

"It's free and the kids can run around without me having to worry," said Natasha Gadberry, a pool visitor.

Gadberry says she and her kids go to the Splash Park more than they go to the city pool, but she says they will notice it's absence this week.

"We help at the youth group at our church and I know they are very disappointed they will have to go to either Mt. Carmel or Evansville," Gadberry said. 

Princeton City Officials say the pool will likely be closed all week, after a line that feeds into the pool was damaged, causing problems to a pump. But Mayor Hurst says there's a long list of problems with the building which hasn't seen a major update since 1954.

"The slide's old. We did take the high dive off. We've got the small dive there still, but it's just old," Hurst said.

Hurst says they're anxious to get plans in place for a new $2 million to $3 million facility. There's potentially some money from the Stellar Community Grant the city just received, among other places, but it may require being without a pool all during next summer.

"While you're doing construction, and then reopens in 2014. I hope not, but that's the other option," Hurst said.

Residents say a new pool would be a great addition to a growing community.

"Princeton's gotten a lot bigger, especially here recently, so having a new pool would be nice," Gadberry said.

Mayor Hurst also says that were several pool parties scheduled this week. They will be rescheduled for a later point in the summer.

Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.