City given money for pool repair

Gravette Mayor Bill Howard, left, and Allyson Ransom, Communications and Resource Efficiency Director, stand in front of a missing diving board at the city pool as they accept a $40,000 check from State Senator Kim Hendren and State Representative Mary Lou Slinkard, a state grant to assist with the pool's repair.
Gravette Mayor Bill Howard, left, and Allyson Ransom, Communications and Resource Efficiency Director, stand in front of a missing diving board at the city pool as they accept a $40,000 check from State Senator Kim Hendren and State Representative Mary Lou Slinkard, a state grant to assist with the pool's repair.

— The city of Gravette has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Arkansas Rural Services “General Improvement Fund” (GIF) to assist with repair of the city’s municipal swimming pool.

The funds come as a result of a grant application submitted by Allyson Ransom and with the cooperation of State Senator Kim Hendren and State Representative Mary Lou Slinkard as a portion of the GIF disbursement.

Gravette’s pool was not open this past summer because the cost of repairing it was prohibitive due to a shortage of funds and the extent of the pool’s damage.

Ransom said one estimate for the repair has been obtained, but bidding the project will bethe next step when specifications of the needed repairs are finalized.

Cracks and a possible leak in the pool and deterioration around the parapet are major concerns. A new diving board is needed and much cosmetic improvement is required in the pool area. The pool will probably need sand blasting before sealing and repainting and work in the kiddie pool area is especially needing attention. Condition of the filtration system has not yet been determined.

Kids’ letters helped

Ransom said several dozen children wrote letters to The Gravette News Herald lamenting the pool closing and their inclusion in the grant application were part of the documentation which led to the grant approval.

The pool was constructed on the site of the old two-story Gravette High School at the same time the old school gymnasium was converted into the Civic Center. It was a project funded by a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant. It opened on Gravette Day, Aug. 8,1970, when 110 kids and adults splashed in water that first day.

During the intervening years, the pool has been a center of attraction for hundreds of Gravette and area youth. A swimming team participated in area meets several years, scores of children learned to swim under Red Cross tutelage and scores of parties were enjoyed at the facility.

Allyson was joined by Mayor Bill Howard in saying the project of refurbishing the pool will be a priority so that it is in operation next summer.

News, Pages 2 on 10/27/2010