LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Crews have begun ripping up the pool in the Camp Taylor neighborhood to make way for a new one.
But the project is a touchy subject for some of those living in the surrounding area.
Tucked away off Popular Level Road sits the empty old Camp Taylor neighborhood pool.
Crews worked to take down the pool in the Camp Taylor neighborhood on May 15, 2024 to begin construction on a new one. (WDRB photo)
"If you had a problem in your neighborhood, you'd want someone to solve it," Earl Wallace, a longtime Camp Taylor resident, said.
Wallace used to be a member of the former neighborhood association. He lives within walking distance from where crews are demolishing it.
The city said it closed in 2018Â and ever since then it's been a controversial topic.
"People who live there were having problems with the kids parking on the street," Wallace said. "Parking buses on the street and bringing kids in the neighborhood."
Last year, the city set aside money from the budget and federal American Rescue Plan funding to improve the pool.
In December 2023, Louisville Metro Council voted in favor of Mayor Craig Greenberg's pan to redirect $20 million in ARP funding for Louisville parks and libraries. More than $9 million of that funding is for renovations of both the Camp Taylor and Algonquin pools.
"I would love to see another pool in Louisville but I would like to see it somewhere else," Wallace said.
In August, the city held a public meeting for people in the neighborhood to give feedback. Many parents wanted a new pool for their kids.
"There's nothing to do for teenagers and people who want to stay out of trouble," resident Chelsea Powers said back in 2023.
"The people that wanted a pool of young people moved in here in the past five or 10 years, got young kids," Wallace said. "I agree with them. They need a pool. The problem we're going to have and we had, it's not going to be worthwhile."
The city has not shared what the new pool improvements will include, but says it does plan to reopen the pool in the summer of 2025.
"I don't care what options it has, I just want to be able to have a pool for the kids to enjoy," resident David O'Connell said.
"The best thing to have for Camp Taylor was to close the pool," Wallace said.
The city plans on announcing more details on May 24, 2024. Wallace hopes the city's budget includes money for a new fence.
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