Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mercer Pool Closure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mercer Aquatics roof job will close pool Aug. 4–Sept. 8; city staff to rework swim schedules
Summary
City staff said the Mercer Aquatics roof replacement — approved by City Council the night before the commission meeting — will close Mercer pool for several weeks in August and may limit public swim access while teams and clubs are accommodated.
Brad, Parks and Recreation staff member, told the commission that the city closed and awarded the bid for the Mercer Aquatics roof replacement at the City Council meeting the night before this commission session and that planned closure dates for Mercer pool are Aug. 4 through Sept. 8.
“That bid was just approved yesterday at the council meeting,” Brad said, and the closure dates “we're looking at August 4 through September 8.” He told commissioners the timing attempts to avoid rainy-season complications but acknowledged the closure will reduce available city pool capacity this summer.
Brad outlined groups that use Mercer pool and said staff are coordinating to accommodate them. He listed the City High swim team, the Southeast junior-high swim team, and the Iowa City Eels swim club among organized users, and noted the swim team season begins Aug. 11. “So we've informed them. We told them a while back that this was coming down the pipeline,” Brad said, and staff will work on scheduling to accommodate team practices and public use between Aug. 4 and Sept. 8.
Mercer’s closure comes while City Park Pool remains under reconstruction; staff said that will leave the city with one other public pool in operation for that period. Brad said staff will discuss options for providing pool time to the public and for program needs, including possible temporary relocations or adjusted hours.
Staff also said school-district field projects at Mercer (baseball/softball field construction and turf establishment) are proceeding on a district timeline; the district expects final completion in spring so that teams can practice in the spring if turf establishment progresses.
There were no formal votes at the commission meeting to change scheduling; Brad said the city will follow up with detailed public notices and will coordinate with teams and community stakeholders as the closure approaches.
