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Jasper Municipal Pool Begins to Take Shape
The Jasper Redevelopment Authority convened for a brief meeting on Wednesday morning to
discuss some exciting future plans for the new municipal pool.
First on the agenda, a claim was approved with Taber Owens Construction Group for the Parks
Department. This claim was related to the construction of Jasper’s new municipal pool, which is
in progress and currently on schedule for completion by Memorial Day weekend of 2025.
As the pool itself begins to take shape, the Jasper Redevelopment Authority began discussions
during their session about possible entry fees and memberships for residents. Some ideas
proposed included the use of a coupon book that could even be gifted during Christmas ahead
of the next pool season. Discussions will continue to determine how best to provide options to
the public for accessing the pool and to finalize fees or membership levels. These would be
reflective of the pool’s operating costs and amenities being offered.
With the new pool season approaching quickly and the expected high level of community
attendance, officials have begun discussions about some critical details. Some items yet to be
determined include determining the pool’s capacity as well as the number of lifeguards to be
hired for the season. In addition to the pool itself, it was reported at the meeting that one
hundred lounge chairs will be in inventory. Although it is unknown how many of these might be
available for use in the final design, the upgraded seating area could affect the capacity levels.
While the Jasper Redevelopment Authority says that it will rely on professional counsel to make
these decisions, it is expected that these numbers will remain relatively similar to those in
previous years.
Officials said that they are considering extending the swimming season for the first year of the
pool’s operation, explaining that this has been a frequent request made by Jasper residents.
The pool season typically ends in August when school resumes, but high attendance levels are
expected when the pool reopens next year. A suggestion was made that the swimming season
may be extended for a yet undetermined length of time into the school year and see what the
demand is in order to help determine the best closing date.
The process for determining fees, schedule, and other details surrounding the pool will involve
multiple steps and governmental bodies. At the first level, Park Department staff would come
to the Park Board with a recommendation. The Park Board would then pass a resolution, which
would be sent as a recommendation to the Council for approval. Jasper Redevelopment
Authority members expressed their desire to take this opportunity during the construction
phase to develop the best possible access policies for making the pool safe and accessible in the
coming years.
For more information on these and other updates, visit jasperindiana.gov or JasperGov-Indiana on Facebook.
- By Drew Hasselbring