The opening date for the Donner Aquatic Center has been moved back to June 4.
The pool’s opening day was originally set for Memorial Day weekend, but due to heavy rain preventing the installment of a spray-on liner, the date was pushed back to May 29, city parks officials said.
Now, the new pool liner is taking longer than expected to set, said Aquatics Director Jim Lemke, causing the need to push the opening date back even further.
“The product that we are using is a spray-on application and needs dry, hot weather to be applied correctly,” Lemke said. “The product also needs five days of curing time before the pool can be filled with water.”
The areas being re-lined have needed repairs for the past few years, he said. The leisure pool and slide area still have the same floors originally installed in 1997, and age has caused them to leak.
Due to those leaks and cracks, the pool was losing water, which increased utility costs and further damaged the flooring, Lemke said.
In 2017, the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department requested capital funding from the city to repair the pool, which was granted.
Delaying opening the pool does have a financial consequence. Last year, opening week brought in approximately $6,000, according to Lemke.
In the meantime, staff and lifeguards are still working, completing training, answering phone calls or taking swim lesson registrations.
Once the contractors finish applying the pool liner, guards and staff will help put the play structure back together, install all the inlet covers and refill the pool, Lemke said.
Area residents who are looking for an alternative have one in Bartholomew County.
Ceraland Aquatic Center, 3989 S. County Road 525E, opens at 11 a.m. Saturday to the public.
Darla Cox, Ceraland marketing and events coordinator, said that the park is anticipating high turnout this weekend due to the season kickoff and the Donner Aquatic Center being closed.
In the meantime, Lemke is optimistic that the Donner pool will open to the public June 4, although he allowed that if the maintenance isn’t completed, the date could be moved again.
“At this point I guess anything is possible,” he said.
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For more information on Donner Aquatic Center, visit columbusparksandrec.com or the Donner Aquatic Center Facebook page.
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