MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010 10:33 am

The city can either fix the outdoor pool at the SportsCom or close it, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Goodwin said to the city council Thursday night.

“We’re at the point where if the council doesn’t approve this tonight, we will not be able to open the outdoor pool, which is one of our most popular venues in the city,” Goodwin said.

To fix both of the aging outdoor and indoor pools, the city must invest more than $3.2 million.

Built in 1987, the pools have seen much use over the past 20 years.

“However, the 22 years of heavy usage and demand placed on the systems at SportsCom have taken a toll on the facilities,” Goodwin said. “These facilities are in poor condition and must be renovated to continue their use in the future.”

Goodwin said adding a “water-park setting,” complete with a “sprayground,” water slides, an open lap pool and climbing wall, is necessary to attract more visitors.

“We’ve had many complaints from the public asking, ‘When are you going to do something to this pool?’” Goodwin said. “We had other requests like, ‘It would be really nice to have a water slide.’ or something that would appeal to the broader public.”

These changes could increase attendance by 30 percent to 50 percent, he said. And by appealing to the broader public, families and teens, Goodwin hopes to increase revenue and make the pools self-sustaining.

In the end, the city council approved funding the lowest and best bid from Sain Construction Company for $3.25 million. When combined with architectural and engineering fees the total for rehab comes in at $3,463,142

Sain Construction Company will begin to repair sinking decks, the filtration system, and strip and repaint the outdoor pool in February, as well as make the additions to the pool.

The pool is scheduled to reopen on Memorial Day without any weather delays. The indoor pool will then close to be resurfaced and get a new filtration system.

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Other council business:
• Approved using funds from the Recreation Trails Program to restore parts of the Stones River Greenway,
• Authorized filing for federal assistance from the Federal Transit Administration, and
• Agreed to buy the fire department a new aerial truck with money for loans.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.