A widely anticipated project to repair and restore a heavily used swimming and diving pool at the New Canaan YMCA is underway, officials say, with the first phase of “shoring” the facility expected to be completed by late November.
The Y expects to reopen the Valles Pool—a 46-year-old facility in need of repairs—for this winter, though “we will need to make sure this can be done in a safe way with adequate space around the shoring,” according to Executive Director Margaret Riley.
“Phase Two will include the actual roof repair work, which cannot begin until the risk of winter weather has passed,” Riley told NewCanaanite.com in an email in response to questions about the project. “We’ll be using the winter months to complete planning, permitting, bids, and material sourcing. It’s anticipated that the project will be completed and the Valles Pool will be reopened next summer.”
The Y closed the pool Aug. 18, informing members in an Aug. 17 email that the nonprofit organization is making “all efforts to complete this project as quickly as possible, so that our members can return to enjoying the pool they love so well.”
“We ask for your flexibility, understanding, and grace while we work toward that goal,” the Y said in the email.
Riley told NewCanaanite.com that the information gleaned from the updated engineering study “was unexpected and we realize closing the pool without advance notice is frustrating.”
“It is for us as well, but the YMCA cannot compromise the safety of our community,” she said in the email. “The analysis advised that the shoring should be in place as soon as possible, and no later than the risk of snow. The engineer was unable to provide assurance that there was no risk of building failure even without snow, and as a result, the YMCA’s Executive Committee, comprised of seven volunteer Board Members, decided to promptly close the pool until shoring can be installed to ensure safety.”
It isn’t clear how much the project will cost. The Y’s first step in moving forward was to conduct an updated engineering analysis, and—unexpectedly—that step revealed that shoring would be necessary, according to the organization.
“To the extent possible, we will endeavor to have the shoring designed, sourced and installed while simultaneously moving into the architectural planning stage,” Riley said in her email response. “When the architectural stage is complete, we can begin to define the budget and details of the work itself.”
News that the Y Board was studying the Valles Pool with an eye on deciding whether to preserve the facility as-is or change it broke in mid-May. At that point, the Y communicated out that it was examining the aging pool, while many members voiced support in favor of maintaining it, even creating a website dedicated to their cause, printing ‘Save the Valles Pool’ T-shirts and planning a peaceful protest. In June, town officials said they’d heard from many concerned residents and were monitoring the situation closely. That same week, the Y’s Board voted unanimously in favor of preserving the pool.
Different aquatics groups have voiced an interest in helping with fundraising for the project, and donations are already coming in, according to the Y (here’s where those interested can contribute).
Asked for the Y’s big message for the community, Riley said, “We are working to fix the roof and reopen the pool. The YMCA is committed to the plan approved by the Board in June, which will address the needed roof work and preserve the Valles Pool. We look forward to the full reopening of the pool, which is anticipated to be ready next summer—with the hope of even temporarily reopening it over the winter with the shoring in place.”
Project updates for the Valles Pool will be posted online at https://newcanaanymca.org/valles-pool-roof-project/.