City to apply for grant to renovate the Franklin Pool

Published 3:35 pm Friday, March 10, 2023

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BY ROBERT SORRELL
Star Correspondent
Officials in the city of Elizabethton plan to apply for a grant to renovate the Franklin Pool.
City Council approved a resolution Thursday to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for the pool. Maximum grant funding available is $630,000, which requires $85,909, or 12 percent, in matching funds, according to information provided by the city.
There is $390,000 budgeted for Franklin Pool improvements in the budget that could be appropriated for the project, the information states.
Mike Mains, director of Elizabethton Parks and Recreation, said it has been at least 20 years since there have been renovations at the Franklin Pool.
The Franklin Pool, built in the 1940s, serves the citizens of Elizabethton and Carter County. It draws thousands of patrons on an annual basis. Once operated as a private club, Franklin Pool was an extremely popular location for family recreation.
This aquatic facility, which is located near Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area and the Watauga River, was acquired by the city in the 1990s. The Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department continues to operate the public pool.
The pool’s inner lining was resurfaced in the late 1990s and a splash pad was recently installed.
To continue serving citizens, Mains said Thursday the pool is in need of repairs. The grant funding would be used to demolish concrete decks, remove old mechanical equipment, existing pool piping, plaster and tile, according to the city.
Also, included in the project would be the replacement of the pool deck and the outdated guttering system that is crucial to the facility’s maintenance, the city said. The project will include the installation of a new inner lining of the pool surface, new deck, water lines, new pump, new chlorine system and a new heating system for this facility.
Following final approval, the First Tennessee Development District will assist the city with the grant.

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