Today’s noon rally at Dease Pool could be the last one for a while according to its organizer.
Ray Smith has pretty much taken on the task of trying to save the now dormant city owned outdoor pool on his own, and admits it may be time for a break.
Smith hopes he can take a bit of a rest noting, he has worked “very very” hard for six months at his own expense and has donated all his time and he is “quite tired to be honest.”
The Dease Pool lobbyist says he has spent hundreds of dollars of his own money on the effort.
The City of Thunder Bay decided to close the pool for this season because officials say the 106-year-old facility is in bad shape.
They say the liner of the pool is breaking down, and there are signs the wall of the pool is starting to deteriorate.
A report to Council noted Dease Pool would need $2.8 million to be brought up to current standards.
The city is using $52,000 of Dease Pool’s funding for more youth activities at Dease and Minnesota Parks and Art Widnall Pool, which is around a ten-minute walk from Dease Pool.
Since that time, Smith has decided to take on the task of gathering public support to keep the pool open explaining he successfully prevented its closure back in the 1970s with a similar campaign.
