The County-owned Hardie Park Pool in Cayucos will not open this summer after the County discovered it has structural problems that make it unsafe to use. Photo by Neil Farrell
Cayucos’ Hardie Park won’t be filled with the delighted squeals and splashing of children this summer, after the County Parks Department closed the town’s sole public pool for the summer after it discovered it was badly in need of major repairs.
According to an official notice affixed to the closed gate at the pool, which was posted May 5 and headlined: “Hardie Park Pool — Closed for Summer,” the County discovered the problem while planning to do another renovation project.
“Due to major structural and safety concerns discovered during planned renovation work,” the County notice reads, “the Hardie Park Pool will not open this summer.
“Initial repair plans expanded after significant soil and structural damage were identified. A full engineering analysis is now required to determine repair options, costs and next steps.
“This assessment is expected to take approximately 9 months.”
The County determined that the in-ground, cement pool was unsafe to use.
“For the safety of the public, the pool will remain closed until necessary repairs can be completed.”
The closure hasn’t set well with the public, including John Winthrop, who in a letter to the Editor of EBN wrote: “The pool across from Hardie Park remains closed for the summer, and also for the foreseeable future, because it has a very bad leak, and NOBODY knows where it is, how bad it is, or how much it will cost to fix it. So those who live here in Cayucos will just have to tough it out and go elsewhere if they want to recreate in fresh water.”
The issue was also raised during a Dist. 2 Supervisor candidate’s forum at the Boradori Garage, held shortly before the June Primary Election. That forum focused on Cayucos issues.
Supervisor-elect Jim Dantona — a Cayucos resident — won that race against Morro Bay’s Michael Erin Woody. Both candidates were critical of the pool situation, Woody more so than Dantona, who will take office in December when long-time Dist. 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s fifth term is up.
If the County’s closure notice holds up and it indeed takes 9 months to fix the pool that would mean it would be at least until next February before it opens again, however, that would be in time for next summer. But the County notice is noncommittal on that detail.
“We understand this is disappointing for residents and visitors who enjoy the pool,” the County notice said, “and we appreciate your patience and understanding as the County evaluates the future of Hardie Pool.”
The County has several other swimming pools it owns and operates, with the nearest one to Cayucos in Cambria at Shamel Park. There are also County pools in Shandon, Templeton, San Miguel, Lopez Lake and Santa Margarita Lake.
Morro Bay High School has a great swimming pool that the City Recreation Department uses for its aquatics program. The Rec Department has a whole array of swimming programs including swimming lessons for different skill levels, mommy and me classes, and recreational swimming, among others. See: www.morrobayca.gov/1019/Aquatics for the schedule.
Ironically, for over 15 years Morro Bay high didn’t have a swimming pool and the Hardie Park Pool was one of two local pools (the other being Cuesta College) that the school’s swimming & diving teams and its water polo teams used for workouts.
