The Crystal City Municipal Pool’s summer just got a little more comfortable, thanks to the generosity of one local business owner.
In March of this year, the Oak Valley Golf Course & Resort in Pevely announced in a Facebook post that it was permanently closing its pool.
“This was not an easy choice,” the post noted. “The pool has been a place of laughter, family time and summer memories for so many — and it has meant more to us than we can put into words.
“Please know this decision came only after years of exhausting every possible avenue.”
Oak Valley said the expense of maintaining the pool far surpassed income.
“When you look at expenses versus income, it simply was not sustainable,” the post said. “With no growth in revenue and rising operating costs, we could not continue to keep the pool open without putting the entire business at risk.”
Oak Valley said they had made an offer to the city of Pevely to purchase the pool, but the offer was declined. The golf course and other amenities will remain open.
Pam Meese, manager of The Summit at Crystal City Park event and meeting room, saw the Facebook post about the closure and reached out to Oak Valley owner Tauqeer Haider to set up a meeting with herself and Crystal City Mayor Mike Osher to see if there were any swimming pool items Oak Valley might be willing to part with.
“We were able to meet and go through some things, and the owner actually donated 30 pool lounge chairs to us, just because he wanted to help out,” Osher said.
Osher said the Crystal City Pool typically replaces about 10 pool chairs per year due to wear and tear, at a price of about $250 each.
He said quite a few were also previously damaged in a hailstorm.
In addition to the lounge chairs, Osher said, Haider also donated stackable chairs, a pool ladder, a rescue board, a lifeguard stand, picnic tables and several other items to be used around the pool.
After the initial donation, the city decided to approach Haider again to ask to purchase additional items that Oak Valley would no longer need, such as an additional 30 lounge chairs, planters, concrete picnic tables, Osher said.
“We were able to reuse some things and got the city a very good price on some good materials,” Osher said.
Osher said $12,800 of park funds were used to purchase the items from Oak Valley.
He said not only will items be used at the pool and park, but also around town, such as the planters to be filled with flowers and several picnic tables that will be placed outside of City Hall.
Osher said he anticipates that many of the people who used to swim at Oak Valley will start coming to Crystal City Municipal Pool instead, and that the city is ready for them.
“Our pool has been packed this summer. We want as many people as we can get in our parks. Our Crystal City parks are the gem of the county, so I absolutely want them using our pool,” Osher said.
He said the Crystal City Municipal Pool is not a money maker for the city, but he feels it is an important service for the community, especially with so few public pool options still open in the area.
“It costs a lot of money to run, but we view that as a service to the community,” Osher said. “Crystal City pool will stay here as long as we can keep it, for sure. I don’t foresee it closing.”
Upcoming special pool events include:
■ Mermaids in the Pool from 5-8 p.m. on June 27.
■ Late Night Swim from 8-10 p.m. on July 10.
■ Dive-in Movie on Aug. 1. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.
■ First Responders Evening at the Pool from 6-8 p.m. on July 11 with free admission and ice cream, while supplies last. Identification is required for entry.
■ Teachers Night at the Pool from 6-8 p.m. on July 18 with free admission and ice cream, while supplies last. Identification is required for entry.
The Crystal City Municipal Pool is currently open to the public every day from noon to 6 p.m. Adult swim takes place from 10-11:50 a.m. on Monday to Friday.
The regular daily entrance fee is $6 for those aged 3-11, $8 for those aged 12-64, and those 65 and older, and 2 and under are free.
Veteran discounts are available with ID. Special events have their own pricing.
For more information, call Pam Meese at 636-208-3763 or visit the Crystal City Municipal Park and Pool’s Facebook page.