West Asheville's 90-year-old Malvern Hills Park pool will not open in 2024, city says
ASHEVILLE - It's official, again. The city announced Feb. 1 that the outdoor pool in West Asheville's Malvern Hills Park will not open this summer.
There was a similar announcement in early summer 2022 after the pool's annual inspection with Buncombe County Environmental Health identified a drain cover had come out of compliance with newly updated federal pool regulations. Less than a month later, there was a surprise reversal with a temporary solution found to carry them through the season, and again through last summer "using short-term fixes."
But this time, Asheville staff have concluded the pool can no longer be repaired.
A 2015-2016 professional assessment of the pool concluded it “has seen its life use” and recommended “not to put more money in the current pool," a Feb. 1 city news release said.
The nearly 90-year-old pool opened in June 1936.
"More recently, multiple contractors indicated there is a high probability that with any significant repairs or even general maintenance, additional issues with existing infrastructure integrity are likely to be found which would trigger even greater investments in order for the pool to meet current codes," the release said.
The pool has required reinspections during each of the two previous operating seasons as antiquated filter drain covers and pumps have been retrofitted to meet new operating standards for public pools.
“Given the conclusions of the assessment, the uncertainty that a minimum investment of $400,000 will allow the pool to open, and the recent contractor input that repairs are likely to uncover additional issues with existing infrastructure integrity, staff regrettably recommends keeping the pool closed for the 2024 pool season,” Asheville Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt said in the release.
“Community safety is the most influential component of this difficult recommendation,” he said.
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The announcement during summer 2022 devastated many nearby residents, several of which said they relied on the pool each year, calling it a "lifeline."
Malvern Hills Park has served as a summer day camp site in the past. Other day camp locations nearby at Burton Street and Grant Southside community centers will accommodate additional campers through reallocation of staff, the city said.
What's next?
Ongoing development of Park's and Recreation's updated comprehensive plan will inform future investments in Malvern Hills Park and the city's aquatics facilities.
Development of the plan is currently entering its second phase of engagement with additional public feedback opportunities in March to help rank community priorities. The completed plan is scheduled for presentation to City Council for acceptance in June 2024.
The city operates two other public pools at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center and Recreation Park, as well as the free splash pad in Pack Square Park downtown. Buncombe County runs five outdoor pools.
More: Malvern Hills Pool closed after failed inspection; loss of a 'lifeline,' says neighbor
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Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: West Asheville's Malvern Hills pool will not open in 2024, city says
