For the past few years, the City of Bridgeport has been escrowing dollars for the possible addition of a water slide to the city pool beside the Benedum Civic Center. While the dollars that are in place are enough to likely cover the new piece of equipment, City Manager Kim Haws said it that it’s definitely not going to happen this year.

 

“That project could still happen, but we believe it’s best to put it on hold at the present time,” said Haws. “There have been reasons we’ve held off in the past, beyond financial, and even if we were certain about those reasons we would still be holding off on a decision at this time.”

 

In the past, there were concerns about adding additional weight to the deck of the pool. While those concerns have been somewhat addressed with the stabilizing of the retaining wall behind the deck near Simpson Creek, city officials still haven’t addressed how the slide would impact competitive swimming events.

 

The location of the slide, Parks and Recreation officials have said, would create issues with the swimming lanes for meets. That was one of the major issues standing in the way of putting in the slide as the money was being escrowed.

 

“There’s also an issue of the pool being very congested and we have to take into consideration that adding the slide could add to congestion, which may pose some difficulties,” said Haws. “At the moment we’re not looking into that because we may be heading in a different direction. We’re really only sure that, at the moment, we’re not sure what we’re going to do.”

 

For those thinking Haws is talking in circles with the last line, he’s not. There’s a reason for the uncertainty that wasn’t there when money began being escrowed for a city slide during the 2012-13 fiscal year.

 

“We don’t want anyone to think it’s definitely not going to happen, but the reason it’s on hold is that with the indoor recreation complex now in the mix that’s changed things. Until the staff figures out what potential aquatic component the facility may have, it would not be a sound financial move to invest in any non-essential additions to the city pool.”

 

Bridgeport Finance Director Monica Musgrave said that there is $120,000 escrowed for the slide at the present time. P&R Director Don Burton said those dollars are roughly the amount that would be needed if the slide does move forward.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows an architectural sketch of the proposed water slide, while City Manager Kim Haws is shown below.