Rainbow Beach Fails Test

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) -       Officials in a southern Indiana city are repairing and re-grouping after their swimming pool fails an important test.

      The Vincennes Parks Department knew the aging Rainbow Beach Pool had problems.

     Officials are now faced with one option, building a new pool.

     The question now is how big will it be?

     Last week an engineering firm dug into the bottom of the empty Rainbow Beach Pool in Vincennes taking samples of the concrete.

     This week the results of those tests are in and the results are not good.

     "The core samples came back, kind of what we thought," said Vincennes Parks Superintendent Steve Beaman.  "It's 42-year-old concrete.  The recommendation was that it's kind of reached its life expectancy."

     The city hoped the samples would be ok and allow them to keep the 50-meter section of the pool and then add some new elements while replacing the bath house and water works.

     Now they are looking at all new construction.

     With renovation now off the table officials say they are going back and looking at all of their options, trying to come up with something the community both wants and can afford.

     "If we feel a 50-meter with all those amenities can be done at a price the taxpayers would vote for then that's what we'll do," said Beaman.  "If it comes in at a number that is too high then we're probably looking at a smaller facility."

     For now crews are patching up the old pool and getting it ready for winter.

     The plan is to try and re-open it in the spring as it is.

     In the meantime the parks department is working with the architects and engineers on new designs and options to present to the community in hopes of finding the balance between size and cost.

     The city plans to have a formal plan with costs to present to the public for a referendum in May.

     If it is approved construction would begin next August.