PATCH AND REPAIR: POOL BUBBLE FACES LIMITED LIFE

The bubble at Cape Girardeau Central Pool, which was inflated Thursday, will likely last only a year or two longer, said Cape Girardeau Superintendent Neyland Clark.

"You can only patch and repair the bubble for so long," Clark said. "After a while you reach a point of diminishing return when it is much wiser to put the money spent on repairs toward a new type of cover.

"I anticipate that within a year or two we will have to do something. Otherwise, utilization of the pool will be threatened."

Clark said he has met with City Manager J. Ronald Fischer to discuss the situation.

"We will be looking at all our options," Clark said. He said among the options are replacing the bubble, building a permanent structure over the pool or constructing some other type of removable cover.

"We need to start studying all the options," he said. The cost of a new bubble was estimated at $142,000 last spring.

The pool has been a joint project of the city and school district since it was built. The school district donated a two-acre site for the pool and also the old Lorimier School, which is now City Hall. The city paid to build the pool, with help from a grant, and paid for the bubble.

The bubble is removed each summer and replaced each fall.

"We have made a commitment to use the bubble this year," Clark said.

However, wear is showing on the structure. A large tear in the inner lining, which occurred last year, caused a portion of the inner lining to be removed before the bubble was inflated Thursday, said Dayna Miles, aquatics supervisor at the pool.

"We had a major tear last year," she said. Officials decided to remove the lining rather than try to repair it. A smaller portion of the lining was removed last year.

Miles said, "The appearance will be a lot nicer, but I'm worried about heating the bubble. With that part of the lining gone, we may not be able to keep it as warm in here as we would like."

She said the removed lining will also affect acoustics in the pool.

The bubble was first installed in 1979, with an anticipated lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

"It has lasted longer than it was expected to," said Miles. "We hope that we might look at something new in the fairly near future."

A consultant inspected the bubble last year and recommended replacing it soon.

Central Pool is used year-round. During the school year, students are taught to swim. The pool is open to the public throughout the year.

The pool, with its bubble covering, will open again Monday. The elementary swimming program begins that day, as do city recreation programs.