LAKELAND, Fla. — First, it was the City of Tampa, and now Lakeland says it's had to shut down one of its popular pools just in time for kids to try to beat the heat this summer.
The Simpson Park Pool on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard has been closed indefinitely due to a potential safety hazard.
Work crews discovered a problem with the vinyl liner of the pool had started to separate from the pool wall a couple of weeks ago.
The massive underwater blister created a large void close enough to the intake valves that they worried someone could get caught in it and drown.
It’s a big disappointment for locals like Jayshaun Sweet and others who live near the popular pool area.
“Like when school is out, we're here every single day,” said Sweet. “You come out here with your friends. They make sure you're safe. No running and stuff like that. So, it's a pretty nice place out here. It's really cool.”
City leaders say the timing of the situation is terrible.
“But right now, unfortunately, in the middle of summer and our summer camps and everything, that particular pool is closed,” said city spokesman Kevin Cook.
The company that installed the liner, Mertha Pools, can't be in town until at least July 8, Cook said. This means no swimming fir however long it takes to repair it.
Much like the Sulphur Springs Pool closure in Tampa, Lakeland’s Simpson Park pool serves a part of the community that needs it most.
Kids had planned to take swim lessons at the pool this summer.
“They make sure kids are safe around this area and they keep kids, like out of trouble,” said Sweet.
“The recreation center is still there, and it's heavily utilized during the summer,” said Cook. “But getting wet and escaping this summer heat in the pool is not gonna happen right now, unfortunately.”
Parents who signed their kids up for summer swim lessons have already been rescheduled at the city's other pool.
In fact, Cook says the public is being encouraged to use Gandy Pool at the Kelly Recreation Complex on Imperial Boulevard.
Still, that's a little over five miles away and at least a 15-minute drive.
Kids who attend Polk County schools can use their student ID and catch a city bus to Gandy Pool. If they use that ID, the ride is free.
The city of Lakeland says the pool liner was installed in 2014 and it's still under warranty, but they're not sure if the issue is something that would be covered — and are waiting to see if it will cost to repair.
“I just hope they fix it really soon,” said Sweet. “Because I'm ready to get back in the pool.”