CITY OF ASHEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT: Recreation Park Pool reopens, Malvern Hills Pool to Remain Closed this Year

By Press release submission

Jun 14, 2022

City of Asheville Parks & Recreation issued the following announcement on June 14.

Asheville Parks & Recreation has important information to share regarding the community’s two public swimming pools. Recreation Park Pool (65 Gashes Creek Rd.) reopened on Friday, June 17 after closing for a week following the discovery of broken glass in the water. Malvern Hills Pool (75 Rumbough Pl.) will not open this year after a safety concern was discovered during its annual inspection.

Recreation Park Pool

Recreation Park Pool opened for the season on June 11 after resurfacing and other preventative repairs delayed the original schedule of Memorial Day weekend. Less than an hour later, a broken glass bottle was found near the pool’s perimeter and pieces of glass were discovered in the water. The pool was drained, swept, and power washed. In order to bring this popular public asset back into service, Parks & Recreation team members worked with colleagues in the Water Resources Department and Asheville Fire Department to refill the pool using multiple hydrants and larger hoses. Generally, local firefighters do not fill swimming pools. In light of this week’s heat wave, the City of Asheville wanted to return public access to the space as quickly as possible.

Regular operating hours for Recreation Park Pool are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, and 12-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Admission is $3 per person. Season passes are $100 for an individual or $150 for a family of up to four individuals. For information about pool schedules, swim lessons, and private parties, visit ashevillecitypools.com.

Malvern Hills Pool

The City’s other public pool will not open in 2022. During its annual inspection, Buncombe County Environmental Health identified a drain cover that had come out of compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGB), a set of regulations enacted to avoid entrapment hazards which occur when powerful suction from a pool’s water circulation system causes someone to become trapped under water. VGB-approved drain covers would generally be available, but manufacturers are experiencing supply chain delays. After several weeks of searching for this essential safety component, Asheville Parks & Recreation has accepted the reality that the required materials will simply not be available in time to open Malvern Hills Pool this year.

Asheville Parks & Recreation staff are scheduling free Malvern Thrills water-centric play days to take place in the park throughout the summer. Dates and further details will be announced soon.

Community members are invited to join Asheville Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt during a community conversation in the Malvern Hills Park picnic shelter at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22. He will cover the process that led to this decision and address questions and concerns. For those unable to attend, questions may be submitted in advance to parks@ashevillenc.gov.

Original source can be found here.