3 city pools still not open for summer

Eartha Napoleon Pool reopened Tuesday, city says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three city swimming pools remained closed as of Friday, News4Jax learned.

News4Jax reported last month that on the first week of summer break for Duval County students, seven of the 34 public pools in Jacksonville were not open for various reasons.

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Since then, the city has reopened four of those pools. According to the city's parks department, Eartha Napoleon Pool on Harts Road on the Northside reopened Tuesday, July 2.

The city's parks department said July 2 that a new pump was installed July 1 and crews were waiting for chemicals to get "get aligned." The department said several hours later that the Eartha Napoleon Pool had opened.

The three pools that remain closed are located in different areas of the city. Those pools are the Robert F. Kennedy Pool in East Jacksonville, the Julius Guinyard Pool on Jefferson Street in Springfield and the pool at Englewood High School on the Southside.

The city said the Julius Guinyard Pool's new target date to reopen is Friday, July 19. It was originally scheduled to reopen this last weekend, according to the city, but the contractor found more areas that need to be repaired.

A city spokesperson said Monday that in the budget proposal, there is $2.5 million that would be spread out over five years to go toward pool upgrades -- that’s $500,000 per year. 

City update on 3 pools scheduled to open this summer

Pool Repair project What's required for repair Status Anticipated opening Reason for extended repair
Julius Guinyard Pool Marcite repair Re-marciting the side walls Contractor has started the repair July 19

Structural issue resolved due to the pool being above ground. Previously closed as a safety precaution. Structural issue has been addressed, now crews are re-marciting the interior pool surface due to cracking.

Englewood Pool Infrastructure repair Water line leak under pump house slab Contractor is scheduling the repairs July 27

Other leaks and repairs have been addressed in an effort to open the pool. This is the latest of the major repairs.

Robert F. Kennedy Pool Infrastructure repair Replacement of old iron ductile 10-inch main drain line between the main drain and pump house Contractor is scheduling repairs July 27

Various methods of repair were attempted (leak detection, pipe infusion) before determining entire line replacement was required.


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.