Bishop - Pool improvements go swimming

10-2-2007

Since the Bishop City Park pool closed last month, the city’s Community Services Department has been working on some maintenance projects.

Last week those projects were completed, however residents will have to wait until next summer to see the full extent of the successful remodeling and upgrading effort at the main swimming pool and the wading pool.

After a brand new tile and plaster job, crews turned on the water to re-fill the Bishop City Park Pool (above), which marked the end of an ambitious improvement program at the facility. The wading pool wasn?t looking too inviting (below) before it, too, got overhauled. Photos courtesy City of Bishop

According to Bishop Community Services Director Keith Caldwell, the city set out on Sept. 17 to wrap up a summer-long string of smaller pool equipment replacements and other types of upgrades with the final, big step – replastering and re-tiling both the main and wading pools.
That project also included new and improved drains in both pools, a new step in the shallow end of the main pool and the removal of old tile from the main pool.
This last round of pool improvements cost $113,000, Caldwell said, noting that with the project finished, “the pool is now in pretty good shape.”
Adam’s Pool Solution, out of the Bay Area handled the pool improvements last month.
“We had to drain the groundwater because it’s very high there, and if you don’t drain it the pool will float when it’s empty,” possibly leading to complications with its foundation, Calwell noted. Adam’s Pool Solutions “has a lot of experience with those types of issues,” Caldwell said.
Once the groundwater in the park that could affect the pool project was drained, Adam’s Pool Solutions drained the pool and began pulling off the old tile and prepping the sides and bottom of both pools for a new layer of plaster.
“They went back through four sections of tile that were there since the pool opened 30 years ago,” Caldwell said. Apparently, when the tile was replaced in the past it was just laid on top of existing tile. This project, however, cleaned all the old tile and plaster out of the pools.
From there the contractor rebuilt the step into the shallow end of the large pool, replacing a step that was cracked and could have become a hazard.
Before the final step of laying new plaster and tile, new drains were installed in both pools. “We split the main drain in the wading pool with what’s called an anti-vortex drain cover,” Caldwell said.
The anti-vortex drain cover is a safety requirement for public pools. It diverts suction from drains “so if you have tremendous suction from a drain, you can’t get your hair or your hand stuck,” Caldwell explained.
The anti-vortex drain covers were also installed in the main pool, however that move was easier because there were already multiple drains in the larger pool. A whole new drain had to be constructed in the wading pool before the drain-cover upgrade could be added.
Earlier this year the city began its process of upgrading and improving the city park pool. A new heater, filter and solar covers were purchased and installed at the pool before it opened for the summer.
“With all these improvements I think we’re in good shape for a number of years to come with the pool,” Caldwell said. “The only thing we are going to keep an eye on now is the slide, which may need repairs in the next five years. Now the focus will shift to other areas of the park,” Caldwell said.
For the past year the city has been planning to begin a project on the city tennis courts in the park.
All the City Park pool projects that were completed this year were funded through state Prop. 40 grant money. Late last year the city applied for and received about $220,000 worth of Prop. 40 funds, which are earmarked for park improvements.