MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — To say the pool season in Berkeley County was difficult would be an understatement.
Temporary fixes for a number of leaks in the main drain and the failure of a liner in the pools at War Memorial Park caused the facilities to be shut down for a total of 20 swim days this year.
Executive Director of Martinsburg Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Steve Catlett said that puts them behind revenue wise out of the gate.
“It’s going to be $30,000 plus difference in revenue at War Memorial this year,” Catlett said.
He said
“By the end of July Lambert had done about $12,000 more than the previous year,” he said. “It offset some of that (loss).”
Catlett said that loss is compounded when you look at the money they’ll be spending on repairs.
“We’re going to end up spending probably $100,000 between what we’ve spent already this summer and what we’re going to incur between now and next spring,” Catlett said.
Catlett said that their budget doesn’t allow for that much money so they plan to ask the City of Martinsburg for some extra help.
“What’s your option? You either fix it or close it. In my mind there’s only one option.”
Now that the pools are closed for the summer the real work can begin.
Catlett said they will need to cut back the liner on the main pool and cut into the concrete to repair the main drain.
“We’re going to have to replace that liner as well,” Catlett said. “They can’t guarantee if you try to patch an eight-year-old liner that it’s going to work.”
He said while those repairs leave the pools at War Memorial Park in good shape, the pool at Lambert Park is still 40 years old.
He said it will likely need to be completely replaced soon.
The City of Martinsburg has been subsidizing the pool at Lambert for several years and will need to do so again to keep it open.
Catlett said that despite the challenges and expenses the pool season ended safely.
2017 marked his 40th swim season in Berkeley County.