by Robyn Forbes
Just in time for the heat of searing summer days, after a nearly three-year extensive renovation process the ribbon was cut to the new pool in Washington Park Friday, June 6. The expansive double-pool layout is situated just off Orange Ave. and Gainsboro Road in northwest on the lower end of the park unlike the previous pool located on the upper end of the park.
“Public pools like this one do more than offer a way to beat the heat,” said Vice Mayor Terry McGuire who led the opening comments from the group of several local officials who spoke. “They’re places where community is built, where kids learn to swim, make friends and grow in confidence, where families spend time together and neighbors from all walks of life can share the same water and the same joy.”
Lucky were the kids from the West End Center in southwest who were the first guests to sample the cooling sensations of the new pool before it officially opened to the public the following day Saturday, June 7th.
The new gated 5,400 sq. ft. multi-functional dual pool area is equipped with a large water slide, five dumping buckets with a mushroom fountain, a circular lazy river, a zero-entry area, 25-yard lap lanes (5-ft. deep) and a fun area for small children to splash around. Lounge chairs and covered seating surround the area that includes changing areas with showers galore.
“The new Washington Park Pool is more than just a recreational upgrade, It’s a smart community-driven investment in the quality of life,” said City Manager Valmarie Turner who went on to speak on the collaborative efforts that pushed the project to fruition.
“The City stepped in with a clear goal to get it right and through community meetings, surveys and conversations we heard loud and clear what the residents wanted and thanks to that feedback and a whole lot of collaboration, that vision has become a reality. This is what happens when a city engages its people – plans with purpose and follows through.”
“This pool stands on the foundation of something truly special,” said Cindy McFalls, Dir., Parks and Recreation who graciously extended thanks to the project’s many partners and briefly spoke on her personal experience and the significance of the old pool in its heyday.
“The original pool was more than just a place to swim, it was where memories were made, skills were learned and life-long friendships were formed. I know that first hand,” she said. “Since coming to the city 20 years ago I’ve had the privilege of operating our pools for many of those years. I’ve witnessed the joy of children learning to swim for the very first time and the pride of adults who finally took that leap to master a life-saving skill. I’ve seen families spend their summers here, neighbors become friends and a stronger community take shape.”
The pool rebuild was a collaborative effort between the City of Roanoke and National Pools of Roanoke. Residents for whom preservation of the historic caretaker’s house on the Washington Park grounds will be pleased to find that the project did not disrupt the storied structure.
While its exciting overhaul will likely attract swaths of first-time visitors to the facility, the Washington Park pool has a history that runs deep in the surrounding community. Constructed in 1972, the pool provided respite from the heat for young people nearby until its closure in 2022 for the relocation.
A 2021 study determined that the Washington Park pool had the highest amount of resident support for renovations out of any other facility managed by the parks department. Delays in the project build pushed the originally scheduled reopening back by a year.
Deseree Stanfield, Director of Education at West End Center for Youth (WECY), says that the center relied heavily on the pool prior to its closure. In its absence, the WECY team made use of recreational facilities which were a bit more out of their way. Fortunately, Deseree and several young people served by the WECY were invited to the pool’s ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a poetic christening, littered with laughter and signifying that the pool is not simply a feather in the city’s hat, but a community hub designed with residents in mind.
