The Gridley swimming pool, managed by the Butte County Fair Association, faces possible permanent closure unless Butte County secures funding for repairs or replacement. County officials are seeking a state grant of up to $8.5 million to preserve the aging facility. Photo courtesy of the Butte County Fair

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Butte County supervisors took a step toward saving Gridley's aging public swimming pool Oct. 13, authorizing an application for a state grant that could provide up to $8.5 million to repair or replace the facility.

Without additional funding, the county may have to consider permanently closing and demolishing the pool, General Services Director Tara Repka Flores said. Existing reserves are insufficient to cover the extensive improvements needed to keep it operating.

Robin Cook, a longtime Gridley resident and assistant to Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue, emphasized the importance of preserving one of the community's few public recreational facilities.

"The schools use this pool. The swim team uses this pool. The community uses this pool. And it's one of the only places in the community in the summertime for kids to go and cool off," Cook said.

Butte officials said the facility was constructed to provide children with a safer alternative to swimming in irrigation canals and drainage ditches.

"This pool actually was built by farmers probably 70 years ago, and it's extremely inefficient and needs renovation," Kimmelshue said.

Cook recalled using those waterways herself while growing up in Gridley, despite hazards that include broken glass, debris and shallow water.

Kimmelshue, who has advocated improvements to the facility, said the aging pool has become increasingly expensive to maintain. Among the challenges are structural problems, persistent leaks, excessive chlorine consumption and design flaws that make routine cleaning difficult and time-consuming.

Repka Flores said the county hopes to address those problems through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, which provides competitive grants to improve recreational opportunities in underserved communities. Awards can reach $8.5 million, require no local matching funds and allow up to 25% of the money to be used for design.

Repka Flores said estimates prepared more than a decade ago placed the cost of replacing the existing facilities between $2 million and $4.5 million. Construction expenses have increased substantially since then, officials said.

The county plans to use California Consulting, a grant-writing firm already under contract, to prepare the application. Supervisors will be asked later to approve a $15,000 budget adjustment using money from County Service Area 034, which funds the swimming pool, officials said.

That expense would leave an estimated year-end balance of $319,191, according to Repka Flores.

Kimmelshue said reserves must be preserved because the county could ultimately need the money to decommission and demolish the pool if repairs or replacement become financially impossible.

The application process will include outreach to the Butte County Fair Association, which manages the pool, and opportunities for community participation. County officials cautioned that submitting an application does not guarantee funding because projects will compete against many proposals from throughout California.

The Gridley Pool application is part of the fifth round of the statewide program, funded by Proposition 4, the climate bond approved by California voters in 2024. California State Parks has $188.5 million available statewide, with applications due Dec. 17.

Previous recipients include three projects located in Butte County that were awarded grants in 2021. The Chico Area Recreation and Park District received $2.95 million for Chapman Park renovations, Oroville received $4.58 million for improvements to Hewitt Park, and the Paradise Recreation and Park District received $5.23 million to develop Lakeridge Park in Magalia.

Kimmelshue expressed optimism that Gridley residents would support the effort to preserve a facility that has served generations of local families.

"And let's all keep our fingers crossed," he said.