EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council advanced a resolution Wednesday that could lead to a $750,000 grant to help in the rehabilitation of the Heil Park Pool.
Council approved the measure, which lets the city Community and Economic Development Department apply for a $750,000 grant from the Statewide Local Share Account.
The Statewide Local Share Account, funded via gaming revenues, can be distributed to projects across the commonwealth that are considered to be in the public interest, that improve the qualify of life of residents in the community, and that are owned and operated by an eligible individual or nonprofit organization.
“It needs to be repaired, and we can't wait any longer."Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr.
According to Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Director of Public Works David Hopkins, Heil is desperately in need of work.
“It needs to be repaired, and we can't wait any longer," Panto said. "The repairs need to be made.
“We'll go for the $750,000 grant. We get it, great. If not, we still have to do it, and it's in our capital budget to do it.”
'Pretty in-depth study'
Heil Park Pool on South Side has come under much scrutiny because of a litany of repairs needed to keep it operational.
“The main tank is leaking quite a bit," Hopkins said. "There's some ADA issues. And in general, just the age of the tank. The gutter system will probably need to be removed and replaced.
“If you just build a regular pool with no features for kids, there’s really no way you can program it as well as, say, Palmer’s pool, that has all kinds of different features."Easton Director of Public Works David Hopkins
“It's almost like there's so many smaller things that need to be done… and we've gotten a couple of opinions that it might be better to just rebuild the pool.”
But that $750,000 will barely scratch the surface of the project — whether repairs or a complete rebuild.
Hopkins said the funding likely would be used to help get more lucrative state grants, hopefully enough to cover the projected project cost of about $2 million.
First, the city will need to conduct a feasibility study, Hopkins said, which could be funded via the budget and the grant money for a total of about $80,000.
“It's a pretty in-depth study, but it does put you in a position to get state funds if you follow their model for feasibility,” Hopkins said.
He said the study would take a core sample from the pool tank, in addition to analyzing special features.
“If you just build a regular pool with no features for kids, there’s really no way you can program it as well as, say, Palmer’s pool, that has all kinds of different features,” Hopkins said.
'We have no choice'
Hopkins said he knew another municipality that recently got about $1.5 million to improve its pool facility, though it required investments and studies to get to that point.
The Eddyside Pool in Easton also will be studied, Hopkins said, though likely via a less-intensive process.
"Overall, the administration is moving forward on applying for additional grants to study in depth the pool system and whether or not the current operation is working, just because attendance has been down, except for hot days.”Easton City Administrator Luis Campos
Methods to manage the Heil Park Pool have been a longstanding discussion with city council, with talk of a plan to potentially shut the pool down on occasion, or to offer a bus service for South Siders to visit the Eddyside Pool, though no formal action has yet been taken.
City Administrator Luis Campos said Panto’s 2026 budget proposal still includes a suggestion to shutter Heil Park Pool, at least for a bit.
“There's a recommendation in there to close the pool next year due to repairs," Campos said. "We have no choice.
"But overall, the administration is moving forward on applying for additional grants to study in depth the pool system and whether or not the current operation is working, just because attendance has been down, except for hot days.”
Campos said the matter is being discussed amongst administration.
