The pool was initially closed in 2019 due to massive leaks.
CLINTON, Tennessee — The Jaycee Park swimming pool in Clinton has been closed and under construction for around six years.
Jason Brown, the director of Parks and Recreation for Clinton, said the pool closed down due to a "tremendous amount" of water loss a week. The city said they were losing around 10,000 gallons of water because of massive leaks and cracks in the pool.
"Since (2020), we've been working on the grand side of things and getting everything put together," Brown said. "Still a work in progress, trying to tidy things up."
The city was able to get grants for the project through the Local Parks & Recreation Fund Grant and other city funding. The grants covered roughly half the cost of the $1.85 million price tag.
The construction took a long time because of issues with concrete, which was laid out and then had to be re-done due to cracks and imperfections and the long-standing fight between construction and the weather.
Brown said he hopes that once the weather beings to dry up, the new upgrades will help bring back the pools popularity.
"Back in the day, we probably had 350 people in here a day, it dwindled down to the last part we were probably 60 people a day," he said.
The pool isn't just reopening, it's getting a whole new look with new accessibility options, like a zero-entry pool that uses salt water instead of chlorine, and a concession stand.
There will also be a brand new splash pad for kids to play in. The splash pad sits where another section of pool used to be, but after seeing the success of another splash pad at Lakefront Park, the city thought this pool might benefit from one, too.
"The splash pad, our other splash pad in town, man, a huge success," Brown said. "So we tried to do something that would kind of, accommodate everybody. People who like the pool, people who like the splash pad."
According to the city, the new splash pad at Jaycee Park will have "a larger overall splash pad area with larger features."
The city said they know people have been waiting for the pool to reopen, which is why they hope neighbors are pleased with the finished product.
"I think once we get it open, everybody will see we've tried our best to make the final product be something that everybody is going to like," Brown said.
The city has not given a reopening date for the pool, but are hopeful the pool will be open this summer as long as the weather holds up long enough for construction to continue.