LG Council Votes to Demolish City Pool

The La Grange City Council voted 7-1 Monday night to demolish the old City pool at Kruschel Park. More than two dozen citizens attended the meeting.

“The fact that so many of you have taken time to attend the meeting shows how much you care about La Grange, and we deeply appreciate that,” Thompson said as the item came up on the agenda. “Your presence gives us the opportunity to have honest, thoughtful conversations, even on difficult topics like the pool.

“We recognize this is an emotional issue for many in the community,” he added. “This pool has been part of La Grange’s story for generations. Families have gathered there, and children have learned to swim there. Countless memories have been made. But as we look ahead, we also have to consider how best to serve today’s families and future generations.”

City Manager Jack Thompson said the cost to repair broken pumps, update electrical and plumbing systems and upgrades to make the poolhouse handicap accessible weighed heavily in favor of his recommendation.

Thompson said the design of the old pool “is no longer considered safe or practical for young children.”

“Rather than invest significant resources into retrofitting a facility with structural limitations, we think this is an opportunity to think bigger about what a modern aquatic facility could offer our residents,” Thompson said. “That might include showers, family friendly zones, interactive water features, shaded seating, lap lanes, and more inclusive access for all ages and abilities.”

He said the City will hold a meeting on Thursday, June 26, to gather public input on the City’s parks and trails master plan, which could include a new aquatic center.

“This is the perfect time to start putting that vision together,” Thompson said.

That meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chamber.

Councilwoman Violet Zbranek voted against the demolition. Zbranek said she felt the City should wait until after the June 26 meeting before demolishing the old pool.

The City Pool at Kruschel Park dates back to the mid-1950s. At that time, the Kruschel family donated land to the La Grange Recreation Association for the benefit of community youth. The association ran the pool until 1995, when the last two members of that organization, Adolph and Helen Matocha, turned it over to the City. Helen Matocha taught swimming lessons to local youth for nearly 50 years at the pool.

The old pool once featured two water slides, a high diving board, low diving board, and a shallow kiddie pool. Those amenities had been gradually removed over the years, leaving only the main pool with little to offer other than a place to swim and cool off.

The City received two bids for demolishing the old pool, pool house and other structures. The award went to Joe Rogers’ Dozer Service, who submitted the lower bid of $48,500 for demolishing the structures, hauling off debris and backfilling the hole.

One citizen, Sarah Mabry, spoke during the public comment period about the pool. She provided written comments to the Council as well. In her written comments, Mabry recalled how local organizations banded together under the leadership of the late Msgr. Harry Mazurkiewicz of Sacred Heart Catholic Church during the Bicentennial year of 1976 to establish the Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives. Mabry proposed a similar campaign for a new City Pool to mark the Nation’s 250th Anniversary next year.