A local child jumps off the diving board into the pool after Jackson Park Pool opened to the public for its soft launch Saturday. Parts for the slide are anticipated to arrive around June 5. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

After a multi-million dollar renovation and two-year closure, Vienna residents can soak up the sun and water at the Jackson Park Pool once more.

The Jackson Park Pool held a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday to celebrate its opening for a soft launch phase. It was attended by city officials and community members alike.

Vienna Recreational Improvement Association president Jeff Slusher presented a brief history of the pool. When the organization started in 1953, the founders wanted to create a community park, sports and a pool. A bond levy to build the original pool was passed in 1961 with an 82% approval rating. The pool opened in 1962 and was operated by volunteers until 1965, when the official deed for Jackson Memorial Park was signed and created the Parks and Recreation Board, of which Slusher is now the president.

Project lead and City Recorder Melissa Elam said the pool project is the biggest project she had ever done. She started by thanking God for sustaining her and her sons Chaz and Tyson for their patience.

“I’ve had a lot of meetings. I’ve been at the table with my computer a lot. You’ve seen the ups and downs. But I hope that I’ve been an example of doing hard things and perseverance. You guys and your friends have inspired me and it really gave me strength along the way to continue and finish strong,” she said.

Chaz Elam, front row left, and Tyson Elam, front right right, hold the ribbon as Caleb Dawson, front row second from left, Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp, front row center, and Vienna City Recorder Melissa Elam, front row fourth from left, cut the ribbon at the opening of the Jackson Park Pool Saturday. Behind them are, from left, Vienna City Council Member Kim Williams, Vienna Recreation and Improvement Association President Jeff Slusher, United Construction Co. Inc. representativesCharlie Taylor and Randy Burke, Omni Associates - Architects representative Reuben Losh, Jackson Park Pool’s first manager from 1962 Buddy James and Vienna City Council Member Jim Leach. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

Elam said she had update meetings every two weeks with city officials and various players in the project, such as Reuben Losh, senior project manager for Omni Associates – Architects and Charlie Taylor and Randy Burke with United Construction Co. Inc. (UCCI).

Elam said supplies for the slide were ordered with plenty of lead time but delays happen in production. With that information, she and officials from Omni and UCCI decided to open the pool as planned with the main pool and baby pool finished. Slide supplies are estimated to arrive around June 5, which will require closure of the pool for construction and testing.

“We’ll have to shut down for a couple of weeks or so to get everything together and get everything tested and inspected and all that, so please be patient with that,” she said.

The pool was open from noon to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Elam announced at the end of the press conference that admission was free for the first day.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp commended Elam for her leadership throughout the remodel.

“It got kind of hectic there at the end but, you know, we ordered so much stuff and kept our people busy. And so I think that, I think that she’s done an absolutely outstanding job,” he said.

Losh said the city knew what they wanted with the pool project and it will benefit the community for a long time.

“It’s great to be involved with a project like this. You see how it impacts the community. It will serve them for a long time to come,” he said.

Jodi Leach, one of the managers for Professional Pool Management, who will handle pool management, lifeguards and concessions, said she was happy to see the end of a two-year closure.

“With the pool being closed for two years, I was excited to get on it on its feet again,” she said.

The $6.8 million renovation bid was awarded to UCCI in August 2023 after two weeks of extensive discussion by the council and a tie-breaker vote in favor of the renovation by Council Member Roger Bibbee.

Elam mentioned this in her remarks, thanking council members for their efforts.

“It’s not easy to make decisions on behalf of the city and decisions that are consequential and that affect so many people. But we all do it thoughtfully. Sometimes we don’t agree and that’s okay. Because I believe that in the end, the best decisions are reached even through conflict,” she said.

Council Member Jim Leach said he is pleased with the end result.

“Conflict happens when you don’t know how the plans are going to turn out. The pool is here and delivered on time as promised, aside from the slide. It’s a fantastic facility. Now that it’s here, we need to maximize its use.”

Rapp said the pool is worth the investment the city has put into it.

“We won’t touch this one again for 30 or 40 years. And so yes, it’s a huge investment for the city. But when you look at that over the number of years and stretch out, it’s worth every penny of it,” he said.

Elam said the Vienna nonprofit Spartan Foundation donated $250,000 towards the pool.