Photo courtesy of Trussville Historical Society.
Kids gather at the Trussville community pool during a summer swim session in a historic photo. The pool, which opened in 1954, will close for good after this season.
Trussville Mayor Ben Short announced that the city’s community pool will close for good after this season, ending a run that began when the facility opened in 1954.
The pool has served Trussville families for 72 years, and Short said its age sets it apart from most public facilities.
“Few public facilities remain in active use for more than 50 years, and the longevity of this pool surpassing 70 reflects both its importance to our community and the dedication of the employees who have worked year after year to maintain it,” Short said.
Short said the pool now requires extensive work each year just to open safely, and this season brought additional issues with the splash pad. Much of that equipment has also reached the end of its useful life, forcing the splash pad area to stay closed for an extended stretch this summer.
Beyond the physical wear on the facility, Short pointed to the financial strain of keeping the pool running. Because of its size, the pool can only support a limited number of memberships, and the city has found it harder to justify major investments in an aging facility that reaches a small share of Trussville’s expanding population.
“After carefully reviewing the operational costs, maintenance needs, participation levels and long-term condition of the facility, I have made the difficult decision that the pool will not reopen following the conclusion of this season so we can begin to save funds and prepare for the future of this facility,” Short said.
Short said the closure, while difficult given the pool’s history, opens the door to new possibilities for the property. Money previously spent on annual pool operations and repairs will instead go toward planning improvements the mayor said could serve more residents in the long run.
As part of that process, Short said the city will hire a professional landscape architect to create a master plan for the site, a step he said will help determine what upgrades would best fit the needs of Trussville families going forward.
“We are grateful for the generations of families who have enjoyed the pool since 1954, as well as the employees who have worked diligently to keep it operating,” Short said. “We look forward to engaging the community as plans for the future of this area begin to take shape.”
Short is asking residents to share memories and photos of the pool as the city begins looking toward what comes next for the property.
