City Council
Council member trying to protect Bloomfield Pool from sinking.
The Bloomfield Pool, the city's second most used according to a council member, relies on a long-closed recreation center. A $400,000 federal grant to study the center expires June 30, and a bill would spend it on demolishing condemned houses. On April 15, council held that bill for a week. Meanwhile, a council member asked the budget office to look for longer-term funds.
Written by Amy Whipple
Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park has asked the budget office to scour the city’s books to search for unspent money for city projects.
On June 30, a $400,000 federal grant set aside for a feasibility study on the Bloomfield Recreation Center will expire.
Kelly Russell, assistant director of community development, said during council’s April 15 committee meeting that the money needs to be spent before June 30. Legislation before council proposed using it to demolish condemned houses.
According to Gross, the recreation center has been closed for 30 years and planned renovations keep stalling. In addition to regular maintenance and updating, the building needs a new roof, which Gross said will likely cost $1 million.
Losing the building, though, would mean losing the infrastructure to operate the Bloomfield Pool. Gross said that it’s the second most used pool in the city.
“It is so beloved, you don’t even have room to put down a pool bag,” she said. “Sometimes it’s like standing room only inside the fence, let alone inside the actual pool itself.”
Gross requested a one-week hold so that the budget office could look for longer-term funds, such as from parks-related bonds, that could be moved to the project. She said in an April 16 interview that having something more than nothing keeps the project on the radar and is an act of good faith to the community.
Council agreed to hold the bill for one week.
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