Lower Valley pool closure expected to last two years

Lower Valley residents are upset the Lionel Forti pool was closed for the summer without warning.

“They had the whole season to fix it and now it’s closed when everyone around the community wants to go swimming”, said resident Crystal Sarminto.

According to Tracy Novak, Director of the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department, the pool closure was something that had to be done and was not planed. “We had done our normal preparations to get ready for this pool season, but when we went into the bath house we noticed that the roof was sagging”, said Novak.

The apparent lack of work being done also has people upset, “I come to this park a lot and no one is ever here”, said Sarminto.

The Parks and Recreation Department said it wants to ensure they do this project right and are taking their time for this big investment.

“We have 4 million dollars to go in and essential demolish the existing facility and build it up brand new, as a state of the art aquatic facility,” said Novak.

The project is expected to take at least two years, and they plan on meeting with residents in the area soon to discuss the plan and get feedback from the community.