Community members swim in the new kiddie area of the Southwood Park Pool Thursday evening. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

PARKERSBURG — Southwood Park Pool re-opened for the public Thursday evening following extensive repairs and renovations.

Local officials were there to welcome the community and cut the ribbon.

“It’s days like today it’s great to be the mayor of Parkersburg,” said Mayor Tom Joyce.

Joyce welcomed the community Thursday evening, but also thanked the people who helped make the project possible.

“Everything is a team project,” said Joyce.

Mayor Tom Joyce, left, addresses those present at the re-opening of the Southwood Park Pool Thursday evening and addresses the help from Vernon Criss, right, from the West Virginia House of Delegates. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

He thanked Parkersburg City Council, including representatives present – Council President Sharon Kuhl and Councilman Bob Mercer – and City Engineer Adam Stout. Joyce not only thanked the current representatives but the 15 council members who have helped over the years with the Southwood pool project from start to finish.

Joyce noted the Southwood project has been a work in progress since 2017 when planning initially started.

“This is what we’re supposed to do,” Joyce said, noting projects like the Southwood pool are one of their basic and essential tasks as city government.

Joyce also thanked Vernon Criss, from the West Virginia House of Delegates, who was there Thursday night for his part in making the project come to life.

Joyce thanked Abbie Burge and Emma Romanowski, art teachers at Parkersburg South High School, for completing a mural that decorates a concrete wall along the side of the pool.

From left, Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, Parkersburg City Councilman Bob Mercer, Mayor Tom Joyce, Council President Sharon Kuhl and community members attend the re-opening of Southwood Park Pool on Thursday to cut the ribbon. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Joyce also thanked Ryan Taylor, an engineer at Pickering and Associates, for leading the design and engineering of the pool.

Joyce noted there is no new debt to the community as a side effect of this project, and he predicts it to last for another 40 to 50 years.

Joyce noted all of the pool’s amenities are new excluding the bath house. Southwood Pool offers a kiddie pool area, a splash pad, a slide, a lily pad obstacle course and a lap pool.

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com

Community members use the new splash pad at Southwood Park Pool Thursday evening. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Community members use the new splash pad at Southwood Park Pool Thursday evening. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Emma Romanowski, left, and Abbie Burge, right, art teachers at Parkersburg South High School, were recognized at the re-opening of Southwood Park Pool Thursday evening for painting a mural along the pool’s concrete wall. (Photo by Clara Noelle)