Beardstown Pool Update
As widely publicized last fall, the 58 year old Beardstown public swimming pool has been permanently closed due to (1) not meeting the Illinois Department of Public Health mandates, (2) structural costs required to make both the pool bathhouse and pool meet new American Disability Act regulations and (3) general deterioration.
The Beardstown Park District held an open house on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at its pool for concerned residents to see the current condition of its pool and received input for new pool design ideas. Among those who attended was State Senator John Sullivan representing our 47th District.
Price estimate to do repairs and structural improvements along with the general condition of its pool warranted closure and replacement.
Unfortunately, the Beardstown Park district did not receive one of the $50 million Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) grants that were awarded to 22 different agencies last October 3rd. However, the $50 million awarded only represented the first phase of the total $150 million the state has allocated to the PARC Capitol program.
It is of this hope of being awarded a PARC grant that the park district is pursuing the Beardstown community’s dream of a zero depth entrance new pool complex. The park district has established and contributed to a new pool fund and is in the process of having a 501c charitable accreditation for possible future community contributions to help build the $2.8 million project. An architect has been hired who has incorporated ideas given during the pool open house last October into plans.
