Berkeley fills its community pool with mud to save money

[Liberal_in_LA]

Berkeley has filled Willard Pool with mud to save money.

The city shut down the pool June 30 after voters defeated Measure C, which would have raised funds for all of the city's four pools.

Now the Willard facility is just a pool of mud.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inberkeley/detail?entry_id=80432#ixzz1AI7VT5Qn

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. That seems like a dumb thing with which to fill it

Now, if they had poured cement into it, then added a 3-foot layer of soil over that, then it would not only be safe, but usable as design re: plants. As it is now, if it only mud all the way to the bottom of the pool, it's a hazard. Seems that would up the insurance costs, not to mention any lawsuits that may result from injury in stepping into it.

Am wondering if 1) they did it this way so it can be sucked clean at some later date, and 2) will they be putting a protective cover over it?

[Xithras]

2. They're probably preserving it.

I doubt it's "mud". Generally, if you want to close a pool down without damaging it (so that it can be reopened later), you fill it with sand or gravel.

My bet is that they filled it with sand, and the recent rain and fog simply got it wet and gave it a "mud"dy look.

If they filled it with concrete, it would be gone forever.

[TNDemo]

3. When is it ever warm enough to swim there

Anyway??

[ljm2002]

4. Dayum.

My children learned to swim there.

How depressing.

[DCKit]

5. Now they can call it a spa and turn it into a real cash machine. nt