The Water Polo Club has donated R60 000 towards the refurbishment and service of the municipal Zoo Lake swimming pool, a heritage site in Parkview.
The club, which has been operating from the heritage building since 1926, had saved up the donated funds to upgrade its clubhouse which forms part of the heritage building. However, when City Parks revealed the possibility that the Zoo Lake pool, along with more than 50 others within the city, would not re-open to the public due to financial constraints, the club took matters into its own hands with the City’s knowledge.
“We decided to get together with the community to form an action group, the Zoo Lake Swimming Pool Action Group, to raise funds to get the pool up to standard and re-opened,” explained Garth Lucas of the Zoo Lake Water Polo Club.
“As a club of about 60 to 70 members, we donated the money so the pool would operate and we have a local contractor who has been painting and tiling the pool for about three weeks,” said Lucas.
He said the building was fast reaching a state of disrepair before the intervention and plans were now in place to refurbish the entire building in phases, depending on the fundraising. He said some of the areas that required immediate attention included pillars outside the pool, railings, front garden sprinklers and the parking area, to name a few.
“We are going to try our best because for a long time the buildings have been deteriorating. I think it’s time the community got together and started to look after our resource.”
Going forward, the action group is looking to raise enough funds to develop new facilities for the community such as jungle gyms, braai areas and possibly a tuck shop. They have appealed to community members, pool users and local businesses to get involved with the project by donating money, time, paint, tiles, plants, waste bins and benches.
“We still have a lot of work ahead, but the pool should be ready in the next week. Everyone is welcome,” concluded Lucas.
Also read:
Moyo Zoo Lake’s car park garden gets a facelift
Add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
