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HomeNewsArchivesV.I. Answer Desk: Vincent Mason Pool in Frederiksted

V.I. Answer Desk: Vincent Mason Pool in Frederiksted

Vincent Mason Pool in 2004, before renovations.Reader Bill Gordon asks: “My wife and I will be staying on St. Croix for three months beginning late January. I have been trying to obtain information on the public swimming pool near Frederiksted, but have had no luck. It is a beautiful pool and is ideal for our needs. Would you have any information about the pool (is it open, hours of operation, etc)?”

The V.I. Housing, Parks and Recreation Department closed the Vincent F. Mason Sr. Coral Resort, as the park and pool are named, on Sept. 10. At the time of the closure, Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Claire Williams projected repairs would take just a few weeks and would cost less than $14,000.

Reached at his office on Dec. 31, Williams said the work was delayed but should be done in a few weeks. If all goes as anticipated, the pool should be open before late January.Vincent Mason Pool earlier this week, showing the same surface tile.

“I spoke with the contractor and they indicated the material is supposed to be arriving today and they are hoping to begin repairs next week,” Williams said. “They indicated to me if everything cures properly, it should not take much more than a week.”

The normal government contracting process, with requests for proposals and established bidding process, took a certain amount of time, Williams said.

“Once we went through the procurement process necessary to get a contractor in place and so forth, we were into the holiday season and this time of year shipping is difficult,” he said. The cost of the work has not changed as a result of the delay, he said.

The pool was closed because it has cracks and was leaking into the ground, he said. “I understand there has been some problem with the pool for some time, with people noticing the water level going down.”

The entire park was renovated in 2006 as part of a larger $14.5 million Frederiksted revitalization project. Along with new walkways, shelters, grills and other park amenities, the pool was converted from saltwater to freshwater; a new pump house, entrance, restrooms and showers were built and the pool deck and fencing were redone. The pool itself, however, was not touched during the renovations, he said.

Photos of the pool on the developer’s website taken before the work began and photos of the pool taken this week clearly show the tile surface of the pool basin is unchanged, including damaged tiles, indicating no repairs were done on the basin, confirming Williams’ assertion.

Some masonry work needs to be done on the pool platform and its walls, “but the major portion of the job is putting in a membrane on the bottom to prevent water leaking out through cracks and leaks that have occurred,” he said.

The park and pool’s normal hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday. The park remains open to the public during its usual hours of operation. There are lifeguards on duty when the pool is open.

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