NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The City of North Tonawanda has been awarded over $4 million in federal funding to replace the Memorial Pool, built in 1947.
Ideas for renovating the pool have been circulating for many years. Now with additional funding, the new facility still needs more. The new build has a price tag of $8.2 million. The city previously secured a $750,000 grant from the state parks department. It will be located in the same location of Payne Park.
Plans for the upgraded facility include two pools, water slides, shaded areas, and a pool house with locker rooms and a concession stand. One pool will be half a shallow water play structure and half featuring a large, twisting waterslide. The other pool will have several lap swim lanes and a diving area.
The Facebook post below shows construction plans for the new pool.
The old pool was built as a memorial to World War II veterans and designed by Michigan engineer Wesley Bintz, who was known for creating over 100 above-ground pools all across the country. The NT pool was one of the last of its kind still in operation before its closure in 2023 due to safety concerns and deteriorating conditions.
