The water slide at the Chippewa Falls public pool will be back in action this summer.
After being closed since 2021, the water slide is about to be renovated. The Chippewa Falls City Council approved last week a motion for American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used to restore the slide. According to Chippewa Falls parks, recreation and forestry director John Jimenez, the slide will cost $80,000 to repair.
The Bernard F. Willi pool, located at 1 Bridgwater Ave. in Chippewa Falls, sits inside Marshall Park near the south entrance to Irvine Park. The city has owned and operated its public swimming pool since 1969.
The pool is only open in the summer. In recent years, the city has struggled to keep up with necessary repairs and the pool has experienced staffing shortages.
Ongoing issues
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In June 2023, the opening of the pool was delayed because of a broken pipe that had to be replaced. It meant that the first session of swim lessons was canceled and only two of three swim lesson sessions took place last summer. The pool’s water slide was closed in 2021 because of structural damage.
To assess the pool’s condition and provide recommendations for improvements, renovations and replacements, Parkitecture + Planning conducted an analysis of the facility in 2021. The report concluded the water slide should remain closed until it could be removed or replaced because of significant cracking in several of the slide hull sections.
“The steel tower of the water slide has significant wear and is likely in need of major refurbishment or replacement,” the report states.
Other issues the report mentions are a pool deck that, despite being in good condition, lacks many of the modern facility amenities, such as dedicated shaded seating and concessions.
The report concluded both locker rooms are deficient in toilets, and to meet requirements, a major renovation or expansion would be needed. In addition, none of the existing stalls or fixtures meet ADA codes.
The shower banks for both men and women meet quantity code requirements but may not be entirely functional, the report says.
Some issues identified in the report have been addressed. The updates allowed the pool to remain open the last two years despite the fact that the current pool is showing its age.
Jimenez said in April 2023 that the pool had new filters and a new heater.
Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman said in February the city invested in equipment last year to give the city a five-year buffer to determine next steps for the pool and that recent upgrades made to the facility have kept the pool safe and functioning.
For the last few years, the pool committee has investigated ways to upgrade the pool and recently began considering options to build a new pool off site.
Temporary remedies
Some Chippewa Falls residents questioned the investment in repairs to the slide.
“I thought that they had just announced that they weren’t able to repair the pool anymore because it’s in a floodplain and they can’t build a new pool on the same site,” Chippewa Falls resident Jim Krusinki said Wednesday. “I’m happy to hear that the slide will be open, but if they have to close the pool in a few years, why spend the money on it?”
City officials in January said the pool’s location in a floodplain could prevent the city from rebuilding a new pool on the current site. In February, city leaders said they may not be able to renovate or extensively remodel the pool like they previously wanted to.
But the pool is in good enough condition to remain open for at least a few years, possibly up to a decade, pool committee, parks department representatives and the mayor have said.
Jimenez said Wednesday, “Considering there is not a timeline for a new facility, council agreed that it is important to provide this amenity for the community as long as our current pool is operational.”
The new slide will be completed before the pool’s opening June 8 opening date, according to Jimenez.