TAMPA, Fla. — For decades, Tampa’s Sulphur Springs Pool has been a popular spot to cool off on hot summer days.
But a few weeks ago, the city of Tampa decided to close the pool indefinitely after discovering problems that could pose a hazard.
“To see it closed is really heartbreaking,” Charlie Adams, the president of the Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Association, said.
Adams fondly remembers growing up and swimming at the Sulphur Springs pool. Now, as president of the local neighborhood association, he’s fighting hard to make sure the local gem is not closed for good.
“It’s really a vital resource in the community that’s been shut down,” Adams said.
In November, Sulphur Springs Pool closed for the season. But by March, further study showed problems — cracks.
Spring water was seeping in, and ground-penetrating radar showed underground voids, likely created by the natural springs below.
“When they built the pool in 2000, I was one of the first lifeguards they hired,” Louis Campanello, the city's parks and rec team supervisor, said.
“I know the city of Tampa is doing everything we can. We want to do it right,” Campanello added. “We want to fix it, and we want it to be fixed for the long-term not just a short term.”
The city says the issue needs to be looked at further, including taking core samples.
But an early estimate found replacing the pool could easily top $10 million.
“I think Sulphur Springs has been kind of ignored over the years and $10 million is not that much compared to what other communities East Tampa, Downtown, Seminole Heights and others have received over the years,” Adams said. “So, I think it’s about time that we received our fair share.”
A city spokesperson says Mary Jane Castor wants to see the pool replaced, but without a definitive price tag, it might be difficult to place it in the upcoming budget. In the meantime, the city is extending hours, activities and swimming lessons at nearby Copeland and Del Rio pools which are each located about 10 minutes away.
For Adams and others, the pool is much more than a place to cool off on a hot summer day. It’s a place where economically challenged kids learn to swim and stay out of trouble.
Community leaders are working with the city to make other local pools more accessible to those from the Sulphur Springs neighborhood, including busing to other local pools and expanded instructional programs.
“I can definitely say that’s a concern that we face,” Adams said. “And it’s only a testament as to why we need this resource.”