Neighborhood concerned about scummy pool
Reporter: Stephani Ruiz
KGUN9-TV (TUCSON) - The Escalante Pool, near Escalante and Kolb, used to be an attraction for the Stella Mann neighborhood. Now-- the association calls it an eyesore that discourages new neighbors from moving in.
"They come over and they find it full of scum and they go, well why did we move into this neighborhood," Mary Williams said.
Neighbors tell Nine On Your Side that the area already has its share of problems. The scum only adds to it. We took a look and the pool is green and dirty. In some parts, you can't even see the bottom.
"It was beautiful, it was joyful. Now there is no joy for the kids because there's nowhere for the kids to go. And that's not OK," Jean Lopez said.
Kids haven't played in the Escalante Pool since the summer of 2008. Tucson Parks and Recreation says the pool shut down because it was costing the city around $25,000 a month for staffing alone. And the attendance didn't justify that expense.
"They should at least have to maintain it, any pool owned by a resident has to be maintained," Williams said.
A health hazard is one of many concerns neighbors have about Escalante Pool. They said they tried taking those concerns to Council Member Shirley Scott, but didn't see any action
So we took their concerns to the Ward Four office.
"I'm sorry there are some people who feel that they have not been served, but I have no record officially that they have called and nothing has been done," Scott said. "That is not what we do here. we answer every call."
Scott said to answer those safety concerns- the Pima County Health Department assessed the water and found no health issues. The department says the pool turned green because it needed new pumps, which have been installed. The new pumps will clear out the water, but it will take some time for all the green to go away.
Draining the pool could cause the plaster to deteriorate. If that happened, Parks and Recreation says it would cost at least $60,000 to repair the pool and fill it up again.
Nine On Your Side Reporter Stephani Ruiz asked Scott if she wants the pool to open back up.
"I would love to see all the pools throughout the entire city open but this pool, this particular one, is one that is requiring a lot of attention in terms of maintenance and dollars," Scott said.
But neighbors with the Stella Mann Neighborhood Association say they're not giving up on their community pool.
Right now, Escalante Pool remains in limbo, as the city performs basic maintenance. There's no word on when or if the pool will ever reopen.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.