The good news Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director Ruben Wall had for the Wake Forest Town Board Tuesday night is that he will have the signed plans to rebuild the Holding Park Pool by May 15 and can advertise for construction bids.
The bad news is that a somewhat overlooked part of the pool complex, the pump house, is in bad shape and also too small for all the additional equipment needed for the rebuilt pool complex. The pump house dates to the pool reconstruction in 1977 and needs cleaning and painting. “It may not be able to withstand the pressure washing and painting,” Wall said.
Wall came with a PowerPoint with lots of photographs showing the deterioration of the building and how cramped the interior is with the existing equipment. Wall said a consultant on the project visited recently and told him “he would not feel comfortable putting anything [of the new equipment that will be needed] in it. The consultant recommended we replace this building and have it in line with the new pool” to make the connections easier.
Mayor Vivian Jones was visibly unhappy with the prospect of an additional $200,000 or $250,000 on top of the estimated $2.5 million for the pool complex. “We were assured all the equipment could be used,” she said.
Wall said some of the existing equipment like pumps and tanks can be used but additional equipment will be necessary. The future complex will hold a six-lane lap pool, a children’s activity pool and a plunge pool with two body slides. The existing concession building will remain and the bathhouse under the Community House will remain.
Wall said the pump house was considered three years ago when there were renovations at the pool, but “we did not have enough money to cover it (replacement) three years ago. There were a number of things we pushed down the road.”
“I’d like to hear from the finance department,” Jones said. Finance Director Aileen Staples went to the podium and said she has already reached out to the town’s lenders and she will know more when the bids are received in mid-June. The total cost may be $2.8 million. “We need your blessing to move forward with this.”
Commissioner Jim Thompson, who has announced he will challenge Jones in this year’s mayoral election, said, “It’s cheaper to do this now rather than coming in later.”
Commissioner Greg Harrington asked how Wall planned to handle the building and equipment, and Wall said, “We’ll take it down ourselves, do it inhouse. The equipment has to be taken down, dismantled, stored and put back.”
The three commissioners present, Thompson, Harrington and Margaret Stinnett, agreed Wall and Staples could go forward. Commissioner Anne Reeve was at a relative’s funeral and Commissioner Brian Pate arrived later.
