As the warmth of spring fast approaches, many community swimming pools are set for their seasonal reopening, but concerns are mounting over the closed Florida Lake and Florida North swimming pools.
According to Florida South Residents Association (FRSA) chairperson Rodney Churchyard, in 2022 the Florida Lake pool received a budget of R1.8m for maintenance, which includes building work, electrical pool work and plumbing work. This comes after the pool was temporarily closed because of a leak that developed inside the pool, leading to it losing too much water.
On the other hand, in Florida North, a billboard was allegedly connected to a power supply that was meant to pump the pool.
“Community members started asking why the pool was closed the last month of the swimming season. After investigation, we were told that the pool had a leak in February and had to be closed.
“It saddens me that the city has once again left it to the last minute to get the repairs done and that our community will not have the use of the pool when the season starts on September 1.”
The FRSA has been very instrumental in driving the maintenance and upkeep of the Florida Lake swimming pool and has spearheaded various initiatives such as lawn maintenance, clean-up in collaboration with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, designing and installing signs throughout the pool area, donating plants and patrolling during the night.
“We would also like the city to enforce more strict rules for the pool, as many visitors were breaking the rules the last swimming season,” adds Rodney.
The Roodepoort Record sent a query to the Department of Sports and Recreation, and an update will be provided once received. Swimming pool manager Otto van de Schyff did not provide a comment.
