By John Lynds
The city announced it will invest $3.75 million to rehab the Paris Street pool once the Paris Street Gym project is completed.
The gym is currently undergoing a $10 million renovation and the pool will be open next according to City Councilor Sal LaMattina.
“I am very excited for the renovation of the Paris St. Pool. It is a huge benefit for the community to have a year round pool and a rehab of the facility is long overdue,” said LaMattina. “I can’t wait until it is completed so that they can continue to offer vital services to the community, such as swimming lessons and lifeguard lessons. The new facility will be a welcome addition to East Boston, which has seen an unbelievable transformation in its park systems as well as an almost complete and renovated Paris St. Community Center. It is great to see East Boston’s recreational spaces get the attention they deserve and great to see them become destinations for families and children”.
When the pool was first built, it featured a glass roof, sliding doors that looked out onto the Paris Street playground as well as a veranda so residents could enjoy a swim and then sit outside during the hot summer months. The pool underwent an overhaul under then Mayor Kevin White due to constant vandalism of the glass roof and glass doors. The pool was encased in cement blocks and now looks more like a bomb shelter than a community pool.
The plan, according to the city is to restore the pool back to its original glory.
“I am excited both as part of the BCYF Leadership and also as an East Boston resident about the upcoming renovation of the BCYF Paris Street Pool,” said Michael Sulprizio, BCYF Deputy Commissioner. “This is on the heels of the major renovations currently happening at the BCYF Paris Street Community Center. We are grateful for Mayor Walsh is making major investments in to the Community Center, the Paris Street Playground and now the pool. The project includes improvements to mechanical systems, HVAC, new entryway, locker rooms and will strengthen the connection to the adjacent park by installing glass to bring the outside in. These investments will allow BCYF to have the programming space needed to meet the demands of the East Boston residents that we serve.” .
Walsh chose the Paris Street Gym and Pool rehab projects as part of his administration’s fiscal year 2015-2019 capital improvements budget.