March 29, 2024

EPHS Pool May Get New Life - Councilman Cunha

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In a surprise, if not very welcomed announcement, it seems that the recently closed East Providence High School pool may get a second chance at life. The once majestic EP high school pool has been closed for a couple of years due to structural support problems beneath the pool. Ward 2 councilman Helder Cunha told school committee member Tony Ferreira that he was working on a plan to get the pool reopened. "I don't have all the details yet, but we'll be working on it soon," Cunha told the council and audience.

In an interview with the Reporter after the meeting, Cunha, a 1995 EPHS graduate, said that he was "working with a local pool company who thinks that they can get the pool fixed and opened. They can upgrade the pool and maybe convert it to a salt water pool, requiring less maintenance," said Cunha. "The company would probably take over maintenance and all the plumbing needs. They are a gunnite company and know how to deal with this type of issue," he added.

Cunha went on to say that the company "is a family owned business for some 30 years and there most likely wouldn't be any major cost to the city." The thought here is that the company will get the pool ready and control its scheduling. "I'm sure they will work it out with us to give high school activities priorities and then to rent out the pool privately beyond that," said Cunha. A similar venture had been in the works about a year ago but never came to fruition. Some estimates have ranged from a low of several hundred thousand dollars to $3 million for the structural repairs needed. Cunha seemed to think the work could be done for much less. Before the pool was closed by inspectors, thousands of dollars in new windows and lighting were expended in the pool area. Councilman Cunha anticipates coming forward with some preliminary planning by springtime. He has not yet discussed his plan with school officials.

In June of 2013 after receiving preliminary architectural estimates that it might take between $3.7 and $4 million to repair the pool, the school committee voted to shut it down. The committee was upset that some $700,000 or more in Bond Monies had already been spent for energy savings in the pool area. Was that money now wasted, they asked? Pools are not required in high schools and the future of the Townie pool remains cloudy. Councilman Helder Cunha hopes to resolve this issue.

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