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Kepler Pool in Bellefonte May Open Summer 2023

BELLEFONTE — Through a lot of hard work, Kepler Pool is close to being saved. The Nittany Valley Joint Recreation Authority has a goal of having the pool open for at least part of the next summer swim season after being closed for two years.

State grants and donations have made a big splash for the project, and in the next couple of weeks the hope is to have a final design completed and artist’s rendition available for the public to see, NVJA representative Mike Musser told the Bellefonte Borough Council on Oct. 3.

Musser was in attendance to have the board approve a Fair Share Agreement for the authority as it continues to move forward in its work. The authority is chartered by the borough, along with Benner, Spring and Walker townships, and is tasked with advancing recreation activities in the region. Kepler Pool is its current and primary project.

So far, the group has raise more than 2 million through grants and donations, which includes a $184,125 state grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. and a $1,310,213 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant, both announced in September. Two more pending grants for $995,000 and $75,000 could boost the available funds to $3.2 million.

This would be enough for pool improvements to include renewing the bathhouse facility, concessions and parking areas, while also building a new wading pool and improving filtration and recreation systems and utilities.

The group has also established a nonprofit to raise additional money. The hope is to gather enough community support to add a splash pad component to the upgrades at the pool, which will help draw more visitors.

“What we are trying to do is create an area where we can draw people in that want to come to the pool. Then with that, it can continue to grow bigger and better and we can add stuff,” said Musser. “It has been a long time coming, but it will be a great part of the community fabric to have a community pool.”

Musser said the goal is to raise around $500,000, but inflation could increase the price tag. He added that while it is a “lofty” goal to have the project completed by next summer swim season, “that is the challenge.”

The pool opened in 1971 and has long been a gathering space for community members. The facility is managed by the YMCA of Centre County and owned by the NVJRA.

“Just the thought of seeing laughter and music and kids and families at that pool again would be huge asset for the community,” said Mayor Buddy Johnson.

The borough council agreed to approve the drafted Fair Share Agreement with Nittany Valley Joint Recreation Authority.

This story appears in the Oct. 6-12 edition of The Centre County Gazette.