Garrett Stack
ALEXANDRIA — The city pool, which just three months ago was scheduled to be permanently closed, will open today.
It was announced in March that the pool would be closed due to budget constraints, but thanks to the work of the whole community, enough money was raised to keep the pool open.
Led by “the pool ladies,” a group of local women who decided to make sure the pool opens, Alexandria residents raised $40,000, and the story made national headlines in USA Today.
With the money raised, the city was able to hire workers to install a new pool liner which was desperately needed.
Even with all of the work, the pool barely had time to be filled before opening day.
“”We were hoping to have it filled and warmed up, but the weather wouldn’t allow (the workers) enough time to put the lining in,” said Mayor Jack Woods, who has personally spent hours working on the pool. “It’s going to be mighty cold, but it should be ready.”
The mayor has announced that the pool will be free for everyone on opening day in honor of the town’s effort.
“What can’t you say about the volunteers, from the pool ladies down to the kids.” Woods said. “It just goes to show that when a community wants to get something like our pool open, anything is possible.”
