City officials seek bids for South Troy pool repairs
The pool has been closed for the past two summers due to unsafe conditions
TROY, N.Y. >> According to Mayor Patrick Madden, the Collar City is taking bids on renovations to the South Troy municipal swimming pool.
Madden announced on Thursday that the city is seeking bids for renovations to the South Troy municipal swimming pool, which has been closed for the past couple summers along with the Knickerbacker municipal swimming pool in Troy due to the conditions of the pools being unsafe.
“Fixing our city’s aging municipal swimming facilities remains a priority for my administration. Today, I ampleased to
announce we are taking the next step to reopen the South Troy pool for the enjoyment of fam-
ilies and young people in our community,” Madden said.
Funding for the pool up- grades was announced in February 2019, with repairs to the South Troy pool projected to be completed in the beginning of July.
The city is also seeking $375,000 in state grant funding for repairs and improvements at both pool facilities ($250,000 for South Troy, and $125,000 for Knickerbacker) with assistance from Assemblyman John McDonald.
Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello believes that the re-opening of the city’s pools should’ve been prioritized much sooner.
“I still don’t believe that it was necessary to have the pools closed this long since,” Mantello said. “I supported funding over the last
few years on more than one occasion. Hopefully, this delay in opening the pools was not tied to an election year.”
“Additionally, the Knickerbacker pool should open as expeditiously as the South Troy pool since they were both closed at the same time. I’d like to also thank Assemblyman McDonald for his support and the additional state funding,” Mantella added of the need to open both pools in a timely fashion.
Following an engineering assessment, the pools were deemed dangerous and structurally unsound and have been closed since 2017. Constructed in the 1950s and 60s, officials said the pools require major improvements.
According to Madden’s administration, a difference in construction type, and structural condition will require a
complete replacement of the Knickerbacker pool. The administration is exploring other options, including alternative sites, for the construction of a new swimming pool in North Troy.
“Identifying a financiallyresponsible plan for the future of the Knicker back er pool is critical to restoring an important recreational amenity in the Lansingburgh neighborhood,” Madden said. “We’re committed to working with the Knickerbacker Park Association and other neighborhood stakeholders to identify a new home for the pool to provide residents of all ages a place to keep cool during the summer months.”
“Our communities deserve recreational spaces to enjoy, and it is our responsibility as elected representatives to ensure those spaces are maintained and usable. The start of this bidding process is a step toward our city fulfilling that responsibility and is welcome news for those who have waited years
to see our public pools operating once more. I commend Mayor Madden for working with me and others on the Council to secure the funding to make this crucial investment in our neighborhood possible,” David Bissember, City Council District 5 and Chair of General Services, added in a statement.
In conjunction with the pool re-opening, free recreational youth programming will be offered this summer through a partnership between the City of Troy, the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, the Capital District YMCA, and the Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club.
Complete sets of the drawings, specifications, and bid forms for the South Troy pool project can be obtained from the City of Troy’s Purchasing Department, 433 River Street, Troy, NY 12180.
Interested vendors can request electronic documents from Claudia Mahoney at Claudia.mahoney@troyny.gov. Bids are due by Tuesday, March 26, at 2 p.m.