CITY OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WKBW) — For several years, Kohler Pool in the City of Tonawanda has been in desperate need of major repairs. Now, members of the community are joining together in hopes of securing a permanent fix.
It's a fun place to be all summer long, especially for the dozens of kids who visit daily, but below the surface, it has been a problem for the City of Tonawanda for years.
WATCH: 'Everything needs to be redone': City of Tonawanda rallying to save Kohler Pool
Q: “What has gone into keeping the pool open the last couple of years?
Mayor John White: “Big Band-Aids, lots of Band-Aids….Everything needs to be redone.”
White told me the problems with the pool include:
- 3 inches of water leaking out of the pool daily
- Cracking and sunken sidewalks
- Pumps in need of replacement
- Pipes rapidly rust out during the chlorination process
- The exterior fence is falling apart
- The platform attached to the waterslide is rusting out
According to a feasibility study by Brandstetter Carroll Inc., the cost to repair everything sits right around $2.5 million, or the cost to completely replace the pool is $3.5 million.
“I do think it’s worth it,” Tom Joice said. “I think it’s a good investment. It’s something special this community has enjoyed for generations, and it’s something we need to keep flourishing.”
The community agrees with that thought.
Out of the 580 people surveyed by Brandstetter Carroll Inc., 75% of people voted to completely replace the pool, rather than repair or eliminate it.
Furthermore, 65% of respondents said they would even support a tax levy to fund the replacement.
That’s where Amanda Shepler comes in, offering her services to the city to raise the pool-saving funds.
“That’s my job, I’m a fundraiser and a grant writer," Shepler said. "$4 million is not an unachievable number.”
On July 18, Shepler is hosting a Save Kohler Pool Party in hopes of raising donations and securing grant funding.
“We want Tonawanda to show up, and anybody else who likes to use our pool, so they can see the crowds this pool is important to," Shepler said.
On July 18, Shepler hosted a “Save Kohler Pool Party” aimed at raising the donations and grant funding necessary to hit that $4 million price tag.
The celebration brought more foot traffic to the pool, as townspeople enjoyed the water to go along with free hot dogs, craft-making and other activities.
“Everybody’s here to support our wonderful Kohler Pool,” Shepler said. “After this ... we’ve already had some very serious conversations with some of our higher up politicians, and once we secure some funding from those sources, then we’re able to reach out to foundations.”
White shares Shepler’s vision, and the mayor was present at the party Friday night.
“We’re trying to go for grants, and the grassroots [effort] is a way to start,” White said. “Amanda has done a fantastic job with that.”
Among other reasons to keep Kohler Pool open, both White and Shepler emphasized that giving children a safe place to swim in the area is crucial. With North Tonawanda’s Memorial Pool closed, there are few options for kids in Tonawanda and surrounding jurisdictions.
“This is the pool that people come to swim in, not just the city of Tonawanda, but Grand Island and the city of Buffalo,” Shepler said. “This is a community treasure ... for all of Western New York.”
