Lcra awards $25,000 grant for repairs to eagle lake public swimming pool

EAGLE LAKE – A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority will help the City of Eagle Lake make much-needed repairs to the swimming pool at Eagle Lake Municipal Park.

The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $54,000 in matching funds from the city, will enable Eagle Lake to make significant structural repairs to the pool to prevent further damage and help ensure the pool can provide a safe place to swim and play for years to come.

“The pool was constructed in three different sections between 1934 and 1937,” said Charles “Tink” Jackson, Eagle Lake city manager, “Over time, the ground has shifted and parts have become worn. This grant will help us fix these issues before they get worse instead of having to permanently close the pool.”

The pool sits on an unstable foundation, which is causing the deep end of the pool to begin sinking, which in turn has strained the pool’s middle section joint. These issues cause major water leaks while the pool is in use, which prompted Eagle Lake to cut back the pool’s hours of operation over the summer.

“Making these needed repairs will save our taxpayers’ dollars and allow our public works employees to focus their attention on other important areas in town,” Jackson said, “It also will allow us to extend the hours of operation, which will give kids an opportunity to have a fun summer job or more time to enjoy the pool with friends and family.”

City Grant Administrator Alice Ashley said she is excited for the project and the positive impact it will have in the community.

“The pool is an important part of the community and revamping it will help foster a sense of pride in our entire community,” Ashley said, “It provides a safe space for recreation, youth and family engagement, water safety education and more.”

The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.