ROANOKE, Va. – After 50 years of cannonballs, Roanoke took a final splash at the Washington Park Pool on Sunday.
The pool will be demolished to make way for a brand new one, but Roanoke threw a party before the renovation project gets underway.
As a DJ blasted tunes, children lined up to take their last dive at the Washington Park Pool.
“People love being here because it’s closer to the houses,” 11-year-old Kmarre Creamer said.
For more than 50 years, the pool became a hub for people to not only cool down but make a lifetime of memories.
“A lot of community members comment that they grew up at this pool,” Roanoke Parks and Rec Marketing Coordinator Molly Hagan said. “They came over the summers. They’ve been here and now they are bringing their kids here. It means a lot to the community.”
But after decades of wear and tear, the pool needs an upgrade.
It will be demolished, and a new pool facility will be built in its place. A construction timeline has not been set, but the goal is to start the process as soon as possible.
“It’s sad to see it go,” Roanoke Parks and Rec Community Recreation Coordinator Lauren Woodson said. “But I think there is a lot of hope we can see in the future. And there are a lot of fun years to come.”
Roanoke Parks and Recreation launched a survey to hear the community’s input.
The Olympic-sized pool features water slides and diving boards that Creamer said he does not want to lose.
“I like that we have diving boards and stuff and the new slides,” he said. “Usually, the pools I do go to don’t really have the stuff we have here.”
Hagan said they are also weighing out a few ideas for additions.
“Splash elements, spray features. We are looking to include more shade potentially,” she said.
But the main goal is to cater to the community’s desires while still capturing the old fun.
If you want to share your idea, fill out the survey before September 2.