Indoor pool reopens in Galesburg more than one year after being closed
More than a year after closed for repairs, an indoor pool in Galesburg has officially reopened.
Hawthorne Indoor Municipal Pool reopened Sept. 11 and a ribbon cutting ceremony took place Sept. 19.
In May 2022, Hawthorne Pool closed to allow for an extensive repair project to get underway.
There were a number of problems facing the pool's structure, including steel columns that were deteriorating because of humidity and other factors. Steel plates were welded on the side of these columns to make them more structurally sound. A high-performance paint was applied to help limit the corrosiveness of the environment.
Also, new masonry columns were installed on the east side of the exterior columns to prevent water from pooling against the steel columns.
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New vertical joints were put in place to allow the building to expand and contract, which had previously caused the exterior brick walls to crack. These bricks were replaced. The wall was also repointed to secure the bricks.
Other work included replacing steel lintels in conjunction with the exterior masonry work. This also allowed for replacement of all doors and windows.The windowsills were also replaced.
The entire building received a new roof and damaged wood deck boards were replaced.
The concrete foundation and pool deck were repaired or replaced. A new resinous pool deck coating was applied to prevent pool water from soaking into the concrete deck, as well as provide a slip-resistant finish. As a final measure, a new liner was also installed.
The new Hawthorne Indoor Municipal Pool measures 45 feet by 100 feet and contains 163,000 gallons of water. The depth ranges from three feet in the shallow end to nine feet in the deep end.
The repairs were estimated to cost around $2 million.
More information on the facility, including hours and programming, can be found on the city’s website.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Hawthrone Pool reopens in Galesburg, Illinois after being closed
