Frackville Pool to bring public swimming back to northern Schuylkill
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Members of the Frackville Pool Committee cut the ribbon. From L-R: Frackville Mayor Kim Phillips; Karen Domalakes; Councilwoman Helen Miernicki; Suzanne Domalakes; Joanne Klemow; and Judy Ragazinsky.
FRACKVILLE – Northern Schuylkill County once again has a public swimming pool.
Community leaders and members gathered today at the Frackville Pool, adjacent to Memorial Park, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The pool had been closed for the past several years after significant deterioration was discovered. Instead of repairing the 1978-built pool, the borough chose to replace it.
“Frackville will now represent the citizens and children of northern Schuylkill County for summer fun in a state of the art, environmentally safe new swimming pool and, more importantly, the residents and children of the Frackville community have a swimming pool once again,” Council President Ron Jordan said. “Much hard work and commitment went into getting this project started and across the finish line.”
The pool project was funded by a pair of state grants — a $742,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and a $200,000 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), with the assistance of local donors.
Premier Pool Renovations, Plymouth Meeting, removed the former pool and built the current one, as well as a perimeter fence and filtration building.
Heim Construction Co., Orwigsburg, build a bathhouse, restrooms, concession stand, storage ara, and changing areas.
The borough had hoped to have the pool open last Memorial Day, but the coronavirus pandemic kept that from happening.
“I know it’s taken much longer than you’ve ever wanted, who knew we were going to have a COVID epidemic in the middle of construction,” said Senator David G. Argall (R-29). “To all of you who have worked so hard on this, congratulations.”
“This was not an easy [project,]” Argall added. “I think one of the things DCNR really liked was the fact that this isn’t just a Frackville thing, that this serves a much broader community.”
The pool has been the only public swimming facility in northern Schuylkill County since the 1994 closure of the Sandy Beach Recreational Facility in West Mahanoy Township, which was operated by Shenandoah borough.
“We call it the Frackville pool, but Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Gilberton, Girardville, all the surrounding townships, this is where they come,” said retired Rep. Neal Goodman. “I commend you for your hard work.”
Jordan commended Karen Domalakes, former councilwoman, for her efforts in spearheading the project.
“Early on in the project, she came to council and brought up refurbishing the pool,” Jordan said. “Karen did a great job. I can remember her fighting for the pool with words like ‘Aren’t you tired of people taking things out of Frackville? We lost our mall, our churches are being torn down.’ She had a very spirited speech to council.”
“There’s no doubt that without her pressing, and her challenge, the pool wouldn’t be here today,” Jordan added.
Carol Twardzik was among the first lifeguards at the pool when it opened in 1978, and was on hand at the ribbon cutting ceremony with newspaper clippings from back then.
“It’s exciting, bringing the community together here and to finally have it finished,” Twardzik said. “It’s a different feeling now, because I was 19 back then, now it’s for the next generation.”
The pool is still seeking lifeguards, if anyone is interested in working at the pool. A certification class is being held in Pottsville as well, and scholarships are being offered for that class. For more information, visit the Frackville Pool Facebook page.
Rates to visit the pool are as follows:
*Daily pass: $5.00 (5p.m.-7p.m. $2.50)
*Single pass resident: $75.00
*Single pass non-resident: $85.00
*Family pass resident: (Adult Couple (2) and their children or the children residing with them up to 18 years old.) $175.00
*Family pass non- resident: (Adult Couple (2) and their children or the children residing with them up to 18 years old.) $200.00
*$10 discount on the family pass if purchased by May 31st 2021.
Passes can be purchase at Frackville Borough Hall, Center and Oak Streets.
Opening day has not yet been determined, but will be near the end of the month.
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