M'burgh Village to Seek State Grant to Rehab Pool

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - The Village of Middleburgh will be seeking state grant funding to do a rehab of the aging village pool.

Village officials are expected to apply for a New York Swims Grant by the end of next month.

Mike Wilkens of the Joint Recreation Commission spoke to the village board last week about the condition of the nearly 60-year-old pool and what upgrades are needed.

Representatives from Delaware Engineering did an assessment on the pool, Mr. Wilkens told board members.

The report noted that the pool itself, is structurally sound, aside from needing new tiles and a cover. The other building and structures are in "bad shape" and need replacement, Mr. Wilkens reported.

The filtration system, the bathrooms, the pump station, the showers, the changing rooms, and the office need to be rebuilt.

Officials do not have an estimate, but the cost could be $1 million or more, Mr. Wilkens said. The grant is an "80-20" grant and the village would be responsible for 20 percent of the cost, possibly $200,000 to $300,000.

The grant, Mr. Wilkens said, is very competitive and "no guarantee, but worth a shot."

Mayor Tim Knight said the village could not apply for the grant last year but there is a new formula this year.

The Middleburgh Pool Revitalization Committee, which was convened last summer, gave the go ahead to apply for the grant.

The grant application is due at the end of October. The village should have the costs from the engineer by next month. The application can be approved next month as no public hearing is needed.

The pool needs an upgrade, officials agreed.

"It's certainly an important part of the community," said Trustee Bob Tinker.

To help with the local funding match, Mr. Wilkens said, donations will be important. He knows there are people interested in donating.

The pool was built behind the high school in 1967 or 1968.

Some concrete repairs were done in 2022 for $33,000 and funded out of the pool repair fund. Some of the areas that were repaired, as well as new ones, are deteriorating, Mr. Wilkens said last year.

The pool repair fund, which totaled $39,000 last year, does not have enough money in it to pay for major repairs.

A complete pool replacement could be very expensive.

Mayor Knight noted last year that the new Stamford pool cost between $2.5 and $3 million.

Officials also noted that in addition to repairs, the pool is not ADA compliant.