By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The City of Olean’s new splash pad sits in pieces, stored inside the fence at the swimming pool in War Veterans Park.
Mayor Bill Aiello said Tuesday that bids should be opened soon for installation of the splash pad, which will sit at the south end of the city pool.
A meeting was scheduled for later Tuesday to discuss the bid documents with the expectation the bids will go out for publication this week.
“We waited for a long period for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to grant the permit,” Aiello said.
Permits also had to be obtained from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Cattaraugus County Health Department, the mayor said.
The city expects to open bids on the installation late this month in hope the project could get underway in July.
“We’re hoping to open it up at the end of August or early September — if everything goes as planned,” the mayor said in an interview in his office with the Olean Star.
The splash pad components were purchased last year and have been stored outside since then. The project involves all new construction at the south end of the pool.
The swimming pool itself is another story.
Due to a failed sand filter, the county health department could not certify continued operation of the city pool, which was built in 1979. It replaced one built in the 1950s.
Besides replacement of the sand filter, some of the original pipes may be failing. The engineering company the city is working with plans to put a camera through the pipes to determine if all need to be replaced, Aiello said.
“It will give us an idea of what it will cost to get it up and running,” Aiello said. “The original sand filter was over 50 years old. The sand had never been replaced.”
Depending on how much work is needed, it could cost up to $500,000 to reopen the pool.
City officials hope to tap a news revenue source, up to $250,000 for the repair or replacement of municipal pools that was included in the 2024-25 state budget. Aiello said the city is preparing an application using recently-released state criteria.
“The guidelines came through the Governor’s Office,” Aiello said. “I’d like it to be up and running next year.”
The good news is that the Franchot wading pool will open soon, the mayor said.
