Vandalism delays opening of Salem’s Centennial Park pool
SALEM — Vandalism at the Centennial Park pool could push back the recreation facility’s scheduled opening until Friday.
Steve Faber, parks director, said the refilling of part of the pool should begin no later than today.
Workers have removed or covered painted obscenities on the pool building and the bottom of the shallow end of the outdoor pool. At least two 13-year-old boys have admitted causing the damage Sunday afternoon.
The city began filling the pool last week, and it was supposed to open Monday. Faber said the department has since drained about half or more of the 500,000-gallon pool. It may take until today for the repairs to be completed to the pool bottom. Refilling could then begin.
“You’d be surprised what some people will do,” he said, adding it’s the first time in recent memory that the pool has been vandalized.
The draining and refilling could cost the city about $1,500. Faber said he didn’t know if the city could recover the damage and cleanup costs from the families of the youths.
The parks director said he would check with experts to determine safe water temperatures and the water’s pH balance. Some young people have no problem jumping into the chilly, just-pumped water, he added.