The deteriorating Como Pool, a destination for swimmers in St. Paul's well-known regional park since 1962, has closed for good because of safety problems and high repair costs.
It hasn't been determined when another pool might be built to replace it, said Brad Meyer, a spokesman for the St. Paul Parks Department.
"The Como Pool has needed renovations and repairs for umpteen years," Meyer said. "If we tried to open it again, it would be over $1 million just to get it operational."
Until it closed in September, the outdoor pool attracted 15,000 swimmers a summer, many of whom live in the neighborhoods that surround Como Regional Park in northwest St. Paul. Because of mechanical and electrical problems, the city decided the pool can't be operated safely, Meyer said.
"All sides agree that something needs to be done," said Rhonda DeBough, community organizer for the District 10 neighborhood council that serves the Como area. Residents, she said, have considerable interest in "not just the pool but what will come of it," and want to share their concerns on matters ranging from how a new pool should be built to solve growing traffic and parking problems.
They will get their chance at a community meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the park's visitor center auditorium.
Como Pool was built for $161,000 by a private firm, Public Pools Inc., that operated it on land leased from the city until 1965 when the firm went out of business. The city then bought the pool for $15,000.
"The infrastructure is so old that doing any kind of repairs, even major repairs, would be like throwing money away," Meyer said. "A full renovation is necessary."