ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
A community is rallying to save its pool.
The Rebuild Malvern Hills Pool group has talked with city officials, created an online petition, put up yard signs and even had T-shirts made to drum up support to rebuild the 90-year-old pool.
“I have young children I have been taking to the pool since we moved into this neighborhood 10 years ago,” said Sally Grau, one of the organizers of the community group.
Brooke Heaton, who describes himself as a West Asheville dad and champion of public spaces, described the pool as “an invaluable public space in our community.”
“The pool has hosted countless summer camps and programs, including those for adults with disabilities. It’s one of the few affordable recreational spaces left in our city, providing a fun escape for children during our sweltering summers,” Heaton said. “It’s a place that has formed generations of memories – underwater tea parties, belly flops, cannonballs and a few gnarly sunburns. To witness the pool’s decline due to years of neglect is truly disheartening.”
On Feb. 1, city officials said the Malvern Hills Park Pool would not open this summer because of problems found during the pool’s 2023 inspection.
“Buncombe County Environmental Health inspectors recommended Asheville Parks and Recreation (APR) staff proactively assess and address maintenance needs that could impact community safety in future years. While APR aquatics professionals were able to safely keep the facility operational through last summer, the pool can no longer be repaired,” the city said on its website.
A 2015-16 professional assessment of the 90-year-old pool concluded it “has seen its life use” and recommended “not to put more money in the current pool,” the statement on the city’s website said.
A rebuild of the pool is estimated to be $3 million.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of support in the community,” Grau said.
A petition to rebuild the pool has garnered 2,191 signatures.
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Mayor Esther Manheimer and council member Sage Turner met with group members about three weeks ago, Grau said.
“They said with enough community support they maybe could find a path forward. So, we rallied supporters,” Grau said.
Many attended Tuesday’s city council meeting, including a young boy who had to leave without speaking because it was past his bedtime, Grau said.
The city plans to put a $75 million General Obligation Bond request before voters in November. One suggestion was to increase that request to $78 million to fund a new pool.
“But the feeling was there would not be citywide council support for that. So now they’re looking at maybe allocating funds for Parks and Rec for Malvern Park Pool,” Grau said.
The city has a budget meeting planned for May 28 and community members plan to be there.
“Malvern Hills Pool is one of our city’s oldest surviving public spaces. It deserves a chance to thrive once more, not just for us but for future generations,” Heaton said. “We hope that City Council will listen to the community, especially the kids, and ensure Malvern Hills Pool remains a vibrant part of our city’s story for another 90 years.”
The community’s goal is to restore the pool by June 2026.
“This pool has served generations of Ashevillians. It has provided free swimming lessons and an affordable summer camp program. People walk and bike to this pool from all of the neighborhoods in west and east-west Asheville. It is affordable and accessible to community members of all ages, races, income levels and backgrounds. It is the heart of our community and brings joy to thousands of residents every summer. That is why we are fighting so strongly to rebuild it,” Grau said. “Our slogan is ‘Another 90 Years.”