Why the plan to reopen this Conway public pool is no longer an imminent option
A public swimming pool in Conway was pushed out of the ground by a rising water table and now it may not reopen until next year.
Over the weekend, heavy rains raised the water table below Smith-Jones recreational pool, pushing it completely out of the ground. The pool was first installed in the 1970s.
Repairs could cost up to $50,000, but City Administrator Adam Emrick said he hopes the final total is less.
“Because of the rain we were cleaning it to get it ready to open and the water came up fast and popped it out of the ground, causing some pretty heavy damage,” Emrick said during Monday’s city council meeting.
Conway opened many of its recreational centers this week after months of coronavirus closures. The pool was undergoing maintenance when crews noticed the problem. The main waterline into the pool broke, Emrick said.
It is unlikely the pool will reopen this season due to the time it will take for repairs to finish. Emrick is hopeful the city can find the money to pay for the repairs.
City staff will begin taking proposals to do the work and bids will be presented to council at a later date. More information about how much the pool repairs will cost will be available once proposals are in.
In addition, heavy rains have raised the Waccamaw River level and Emrick said the boat landing in Conway was closed. The river is currently at a moderate flood stage. While river depth predictions can change, as of now Emrick hopes the flood waters do not damage property in the city.
“The great news is we have prepared for flooding like this and we don’t anticipate any damage,” Emrick said.
Emrick concluded by asking the community to support downtown Conway businesses, especially Waccamaw Outfitters since it could be impacted by the boat ramp closing.
