A new retaining wall behind the diving area won’t be the only thing that will be new this year for patrons of the City of Bridgeport Municipal Pool. Those who come to the facility to cool off, catch some sunshine or just to relax will soon have more area to do so.

Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton said work should soon begin on a project that will provide more space for those who come to the pool, which during peak summer days can often become crowded. According to Burton, the project will result in moving the existing fence that faces Main Street  back from the area near the baby pool and the shallow end of the big pool all the way back to the sidewalk area.

 

Currently, that area is green space. There are plants and other bushes in that area that will be removed, Burton said.

 

“That’s going to open up the beach area for people to lay out more and for us to put out some additional lounge chairs out,” said Burton. “Space is always an issue, particularly on hot and busy days and we think this will help alleviate that a decent amount.”

 

The work will be done by Neel’s Fence, who was the low bidder. Burton said the bid came in at $9,325. Roughly 60 feet of new fence will need to be installed and it will include two 10-foot long gates. The fencing will be eight feet high and will match the existing fence already in place, which is listed as “Ameristar Montage” style.

 

“The two gates will allow us to bring equipment or vehicles in as needed and continue to allow us the ability to bring in items for events such as the movies we hold at the pool during certain summer evenings,” Burton said.

 

Burton said more than a dozen new lounge chairs have been purchased. He also said a rotation to replace older ones is in place as well.

 

“We’ve been trying to replace them occasionally as they get normal wear and tear and then you often see kids walking on them and jumping up and down on them, which they’re not made for,” said Burton.

 

Along with removing the vegetation, some grading work will have to take place. Burton said a drainage intake will have to be raised to ground level and a drain near the sprayground will also need to be adjusted.

 

“We want the new area to be as close to level as possible,” said Burton. “We hope this addresses an issue that we’ve been looking at for a few years and were able to escrow funds to do it.”

 

Burton said work can begin as soon as there is a reasonable break in the weather. He said it should be completed within the next four to six weeks. As for the actual length of the job barring the arrival of serious weather, Burton estimated it should take no more than two weeks to complete.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Don Burton in the area where the expansion will take place, while the drainage intake that will need raised is pictured below.