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Washington council discusses flood prevention at pool

3 min read
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Washington officials are working to make sure the pool at Washington Park doesn’t flood this year.

The pool flooded with muddy stormwater in June and July 2017, costing the city thousands to clean it and refill it. This year, the city wants to prevent the two problems that caused the flooding.

According to city engineer Sarah Boyce of Widmer Engineering, the stormwater pipe that runs from the woodline and under the pool to a detention pond got clogged with debris last year, causing the water to back up into the pool.

“The pipe was completely plugged with dirt and leaves and tree branches,” Boyce said. “Nobody had maintained it for a long time.”

Boyce said the city could invest in a “bar screen” or grate that would “allow the debris to collect there but also let water get through.”

The second problem happened after the pipe had already been cleaned out. Boyce said the pond reached its capacity and the pipe filled with water, causing the water to overflow into the baby pool. To prevent that from happening this year, the city is considering creating some type of “swale” or trench to divert any additional water away from the pool.

Boyce said council wants the projects to be done “in house” instead of by contract to save money.

In addition to flood prevention, council members said Monday they want to install a fire alarm box at the pool in case of emergencies.

“The minute you pull it, it contacts the fire department,” city computer systems coordinator Lynn Galluze said. “We’ve always had a phone to call should something happen, but it was brought up during a safety meeting that we should just have a box there.”

The city also decided to lower the family pass rate for the pool by 25 percent, according to a news release issued by Councilman Matthew Staniszewski.

He said he pushed for the rate reduction because the pool was closed last year, and because Sunset Beach in Buffalo Township is permanently closed. Staniszewski said he saw it as “an opportunity to attract new patrons to the pool.”

Until June 15, a family pass, which has been $140 for two parents and as many as six children, will cost $105, according to Staniszewski’s news release. Anyone who has already purchased a pass can request a refund.

“It’s a great asset for our community, and we want to increase utilization across all of the amenities the park has to offer,” Staniszewski said.

The city will have themed and movie nights at the pool June 16 and 30, July 28 and Aug. 11 and 25. Families will be able to swim while a movie is played and enjoy family-oriented activities for Hawaiian and neon-themed nights at the pool. Passes won’t be accepted for special events. Admission will be $5 per person.

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