January 7, 2025

Dear Valued Members,

We want to provide you with the latest update regarding the unscheduled closure of the Mansfield Community Center lap pool. As you may know, the pool has remained out of service to address several issues that have contributed to a prolonged closure of the lap pool. In brief, challenges have included a recent health lab confirmation of bacteria on pool surfaces, completing cleaning, disinfecting, and removing the bacteria, the deterioration of the plaster pool floors and walls surfaces, and a failed heat exchanger. Please know that the Town of Mansfield and the Mansfield Community Center are committed to making all necessary repairs. Still, the updated timeline is longer than first anticipated, with a tentative reopening date in mid-February.

Why Such a Long Closure Period of the Lap Pool? Although disinfecting and removing the bacteria was completed several weeks ago, doing so unavoidably eroded sections of the pool basin floor and walls, resulting in large abrasive surface areas and concerns with the remaining condition of the outer layer plaster of the pool basin. Additionally, during the same period, a heat exchanger, critical to heat and regulate pool water temperatures, failed and requires replacement. As one issue after another unfolded, time was needed to coordinate work to address each issue. The repairs began on January 6 and involve several significant steps. Before the new plaster is installed, removing the old plaster and related preparation steps will take approximately 3-4 weeks. The pool will then receive new plaster, refilled with water, treated, and filter operations work will be completed.

Will the Therapy Pool be Available for Use during the Repair Work? The therapy pool will need to be closed for much of the first phase of the repairs (several weeks) as the process involves aggressive cutting, grinding, and chipping of the existing plaster. The work is also very loud and produces significant dust and debris. Fortunately, the air venting system for the pool area is isolated and can be temporarily shut down without impacting other areas of the facility. We will be monitoring progress closely and will reopen the therapy pool as it is safe to do so.

The Upside: A new pool basin will be available to enjoy in February and will not require replacement for another 20 years. In the meantime, we encourage you to utilize the over $175,000 of new fitness equipment recently installed and the complimentary guidance of our welcoming fitness team upstairs who look forward to assisting you with equipment use and new fitness routines. Additionally, we are taking this opportunity to take care of making improvements to various swimming and diving equipment. Furthermore, funds were recently approved for installing an ultraviolet light water disinfection system (UV). UV helps reduce chemical usage and decreases chlorine by-products, a common cause of skin irritation, stinging eyes, and unpleasant odors. This process improves swimmer comfort while maintaining improved water clarity and safety. A strong effort is being made to install the UV disinfection system during this closure period. However, if that is not feasible, this new disinfection system will be installed in the near future and should not require any significant interruption to pool use.

Will There be Membership Refunds or Credits for the Lap Pool Being Closed? We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as this situation is being resolved. To ensure our members are being supported, we have several options available to you. If you decide to request a freeze, cancelation or credit, the attached form must be submitted no later than 2 weeks past pool re-opening.

1. Stay Active and Support MCC:

• Members who wish to keep their memberships active can do so and opt-out of requesting system credit by simply not completing the attached request form.
• By maintaining your membership, you help support the MCC and may continue to use all other MCC amenities. Your continued support means a great deal to us and helps keep our community strong.

2. Freeze Your Membership:

• Members may request to freeze their membership while the pool is closed.
• This freeze will not count toward your one-time annual freeze limit.
• We will waive the usual 30-day notice requirement.
• A freeze form must be completed and returned to activate the freeze prior to the reopening of the pool.

3. Request a Credit (once the pool reopens):

• Memberships that have not been actively used during the pool closure will have the option to request a credit to be applied toward their individual or family membership.
• Credit will be 30% off your monthly membership dues per 30-day pool closure period. A final amount is dependent upon the reopening date of the main pool.
• More details about this process will be shared once the pool is back in service.

4. Cancel Your Membership:

• Members may cancel their membership during the closure.
• If you note on your cancellation request that it is due to the pool closure, you will not be required to pay the joining fee when you return.
• We will waive the usual 30-day notice requirement.
• A cancelation form must be completed and returned prior to the reopening of the pool.
• The attached form must be completed and returned to activate the freeze prior to the reopening of the pool.

Thank You for Your Patience: We know how important the lap pool is to our members, and we are committed to resolving the issue as quickly as possible. Your understanding and flexibility have been greatly appreciated. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our front desk staff or Justin Hicks, Member Services Coordinator at HicksJ@Mansfieldct.org, 860-429-3015, 6108.

Thank you for being a valued member of the MCC community!