Joyce pleased with Parkersburg pool attendance numbers, Southwood upgrades
Employees of Grae-Con Construction Inc. continue work on the $4.9 million Southwood Park pool project Thursday in Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
This image captured by a drone provides an aerial view of the City Park pool and Splash Pad earlier this summer. Total attendance at the pool and Splash Pad was 21,207 from Memorial Day to Labor Day. (Photo Provided)
Employees of Grae-Con Construction Inc. continue work on the $4.9 million Southwood Park pool project Thursday in Parkersburg. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
This image captured by a drone provides an aerial view of the City Park pool and Splash Pad earlier this summer. Total attendance at the pool and Splash Pad was 21,207 from Memorial Day to Labor Day. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- Mayor Tom Joyce declared a successful season for the City Park pool and Splash Pad Thursday and said the renovated Southwood Park pool is expected to be back in service next summer.
With the Southwood pool being replaced and upgraded as part of a $4.9 million project, average daily attendance at the pool and Splash Pad in City Park was 338, Joyce said Thursday. Total attendance was 21,207 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
"I am very pleased with our attendance and use this summer," Joyce said via email. "I want to particularly thank the City Council for their continued support of our parks across the board; and I especially want to thank Public Works Director Everett Shears, City Engineer Adam Stout and Parks Supervisor Doug 'Farmer' Kinney and the Parks (Department's) certified pool operators for their daily maintenance efforts, prompt repairs when necessary and continued dedication in all they do."
The Schools to Pools program provided 95 free passes to youth in kindergarten through fifth grade who live in the city and whose families meet income qualifications.
The City Park pool drew 16,815 total visitors last summer, with total attendance including Southwood topping 25,000. The City Park pool closed two weeks early last year due to a failure of the main pump.
The Southwood pool was closed this year for the project which has rebuilt the pool to add a zero-depth entry area, new water features, a new concrete pool deck, new lighting and audio, a speed slide and expanded kids' pool area and shaded spaces. While it was hoped it could reopen this summer, procurement and supply chain issues kept that from happening, Joyce said in the release.
"But I applaud (contractor) Grae-Con and (engineer) Pickering (Associates) for their consistent communication and openness with regards to what for the City of Parkersburg is a generational improvement to our parks system and infrastructure," Joyce said in the email.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.