Natatorium to close for annual maintenance

by Dan Holland

The city’s Natatorium, located in the Broadview Heights Community & Recreation Center, will be closed Aug. 21 – Sept. 4 for annual maintenance and the cleaning and replacement of components as needed. A complete cleaning of the facility and replacement of the water is performed annually to ensure health and safety standards.

“We need to make sure first and foremost that everything is safe mechanically,” said Amanda Hutcheson, director of parks and recreation. “Secondly, the water gets to a point to where it’s time to start over fresh. Along with that, the filter system needs to be cleaned along with everything the water touched.”

Once the pool is emptied, employees are tasked with cleaning the walls and floor, the children’s play feature, all grates and the cleaning and replacement of bolts on the climbing wall. All equipment will be scrubbed and all decks and windows will be power-washed, inside and out.

Upgrades and maintenance of the sauna and steam rooms will include installation of a new steam unit at a cost of $3,000. New polyaspartic flooring also will be installed in the sauna and on the steps of the large water slide at a cost of $4,600. The sauna benches will be re-sanded and re-stained.

“The sauna floor upgrade is needed because the water does not drain in that area,” said Hutcheson. “So, it makes cleaning difficult. Also, it will have a fresher look to it. The slide steps need to be re-done so that the water does not pool in them; all other products that we have used in the past do not adhere to the concrete.”

A complete draining of the spa area will allow cleaning, grout work and replacement of the spa pump to be performed at a cost of $2,000.

Other work items include installing a new landing pad in the children’s play feature to prevent injuries; a waxing of the main slide; draining and cleaning of the filter system and re-anchoring a number of ceiling tiles. New contemporary lighting will be installed as well.

“The benefit of this is that the public is assured that all mechanical and structural Items are intact, and the water meets the county board of health’s standards,” said Hutcheson.

In addition to the pool closure, the entire building will be closed for cleaning and maintenance from Aug. 28 through Sept. 4.

During the closure, those with an active membership at the Broadview Heights Parks and Recreation Center will be able to utilize the Seven Hills Recreation Center at no additional charge. Patrons are asked to bring their Broadview Heights Key Fob and when they arrive at the facility, they will sign in to their log book for access, said Ryan Meyer, assistant recreation director.

For rules and regulations including open pool dates please contact the Seven Hills Recreation Center at 216-524-6262. ∞