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Three Grand Rapids pools to be demolished; cost $3m to build

Posted at 5:56 PM, Jun 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-16 18:11:40-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The pools at Highland, Campau, and Lincoln Park will be demolished in a decision made by city commissioners this week.

City spokesman Steve Guitar confirmed it'll cost roughly $370,000 to deconstruct; a fraction of what taxpayers shelled out to build them back in 2000 at $3 million.

"Well, they served a useful purpose. Pools are very expensive to run and based on the usage of the pool. There was this decision years ago to stop and close the pools," Guitar told FOX 17.

The city closed the pools in 2009.

"The last two years I was on the board, the economy just really turned and we did end up closing down the pools," Lynn Rabaut, former second ward commissioner said.

"If  I  remember correctly,  I was the one that brought up doing splash pads at the other places because it's a lot less cost-demanding on the budget. That was knocked down pretty quickly because the statement from the public was they wanted pools,'" Rabaut recalled.

Guitar said the city plans to construct water playgrounds at the parks. Lincoln Park already has one.