No 2020 city pool season, Park Board decides

Just three days after organizers pulled the plug on the community's Fourth of July fireworks and Celebration 4 events for 2020, the Greencastle Park Board unanimously decided to cancel the annual city pool season for 2020.

The board unanimously ruled that it was socially impossible to provide proper distancing rules at the pool and fiscally irresponsible to open for a short season that City Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar advised could result in a $103,508 loss.

“Selfishly I want to have it because we enjoy it,” Park Board member Cathy Merrell said of her family’s affinity for the pool and park, reiterating her thoughts from the May meeting that ended up with the board tabling the decision until Thursday night.

“We hold off and do a big celebration for next year,” Merrell suggested.

With the cost and risks involved board member John Hennette said trying to open the pool on or after July 10 when the governor’s restrictions are relaxed would “not be worth it.”

“Financially it doesn’t make sense to open it,” Park Board President Tim Trigg said, pointing out that the Indiana State Fair was canceled earlier Thursday. Noting that “great things are going on with the construction” at the city pool and by holding off reopening until 2021, Trigg said a major community celebration can be organized.

Board member Joanna Muncie agreed that by not opening this year, the pool can come back “big and strong next year.”

“It makes sense all the way around to me,” Trigg said. “And it’ll be less these guys (pointing toward Park Director Rod Weinschenk and Aquatic Center Manager/Assistant Park Director Chrysta Snellenberger) have to do. We can come back and worry about how we do the concession stand and all next year.”

Back in May it was Park Director Weinschenk’s recommendation not to open the pool this season, citing safety concerns for patrons and employees, the six weeks it takes to prepare the pool for opening with cleaning and necessary water tests, and the cost of running the pumps and filters 24/7 once the pool is filled.

He also expressed concern of being able to hire lifeguards for a short season.

Weinschenk said it was not “an easy recommendation at all. I’ve lost a lot of sleep over this.”

While the pool will not be opening this summer, Weinschenk noted that the Bob York Splash Park and its free admission will open as soon as the city receives clearance on the water samples he has turned in and state approval is received.

Splash parks are considered water playgrounds under Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening plan. He could turn those loose by June 14, Weinschenk said, anticipating the city would then turn the splash park on June 15.