Citizens petition for local pool to turn into a splash pad

After an announcement by the City of Idaho Falls back in June stating the Parks and Recreation Department would begin renovations at Reinhart Park, including the removal of the old pool, it has gotten some attention from local people.

“We’ve watched this pool kind of go into disrepair and be dilapidated and we want to see it be put to good use,” said Michelle Bluemel, a concerned citizen.

The Reinhart Park swimming pool has seen some better days. After the last opening of its doors in the summer of 2013, the city said it will remove the pool and fill it with grass.

“The City of Idaho Falls has got 20 plus parks that are all grass and playgrounds. Nothing for water,” said Joshua Dawson, another concerned citizen.

The city states its removal is because of the growing “vandalism” problem and the “dangers of what standing water can collect at the bottom of the pool.”

Citizens think that the city can fix the problem.

“It just would be a shame to see it go completely when it seem’s like the plumbing could be used for something different,” Bluemel said.

An online petition to save the pool and turn it into a splash pad was started shortly after the city’s announcement.

“We have all the infrastructure that we need, said Dawson, who started the petition. “We’ve got the water, we’ve got the power the electricity.”

As of Wednesday, the petition has gotten over 2,4000 signatures.

Some just are hoping to see it turned into another area for water fun during the summer.

“I took my kids a couple of weeks ago to the aquatic center, which is the only thing the city actually has,” Bluemel said. “I think it’s great that daycares can go and do something like that but man it just takes one big group of kids to make that feel super crowded.”

That just starts with getting the city and council members attention.

“Saying ‘hey’ yes this is something that we want here on the westside,” Dawson said. “Let’s get it done.”

City Public Information Officer, Bud Cranor, writes the city council allocated some money in the tentative budget to plan for a splash pad. The City Council will be holding a public hearing on August 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers. People will be able to give input on the budget.

The public hearing will be a chance for the public to get their opinions heard before the final budget meeting on August 23.