Taylorville Park Board approves renovation of Manners Park Pool

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WAND) — The Manners Park pool will soon be receiving over $8 million in renovations after years of struggling to get funding.

Jessica Franks, Recreation Director at Taylorville Park District, is optimistic about funding the project. Between last year's tax hike, grants, and assistance from legislators, most of the money is covered.

"We're very thankful our community voted to fund this and support it so much that there willing to back it up with their own money," said Franks. "It speaks a lot to our town and the people that are in it that now we are able to bring something like this to everybody."

Demolition on the pool will start in a few weeks when the summer swim season is over. The renovation will keep the pool a similar size, but rearrange the deep diving area. Two smaller pools that have sat unused for nearly 20 years will now hold a zero-entry splash pool and a splash pad.

"We don't have anything like that here in Taylorville or any of the smaller communities, so I think that people are really going to love that," said Franks. "It's great for people in wheelchairs, people with disabilities, and small children."

Franks doesn't know when the renovation will be completed, but says they hope to have the pool open as early as possible. They are trying to source local products and donations of labor.