Plans to reopen the Ash Park Pool got a major boost this week after another another $50,000 in state funds were pledged for the project. So far, $200,000 in state funding has been secured to restore the public pool.

“The Ash Park Pool has a rich history, but it shouldn’t be history,” said State Sen. Andrew Dinniman. “Our kids need a place to gather, to learn to swim, and to cool off in the summer months. The Ash Park Pool should be that place and it will again be that place – a treasure and a resource to be enjoyed by residents and families through the entire Coatesville community.”

Dinniman made the announcement at Saturday’s Coatesville Community Block Party, organized by the Movement Community Development Corporation (MCDC). The news made a big splash with the several hundred residents in attendance who came out to enjoy food, music, games, and dancing on a hot summer afternoon.

Alphonso Newsuan, Executive Officer of the MCDC, even planted a kiss on Dinniman upon hearing the news.

“MCDC wishes to thank Sen. Andrew Dinniman for his continued advocacy for our community,” Newsuan said. “We the members of MCDC will continue to strive to restore and reopen our historic Ash Park Pool.”

The Ash Park Pool is centrally located at Chester Ash Memorial Park, between Walnut and Kersey streets. The 9.3-acre park has been enjoyed by children and families since 1925.

The nonprofit MCDC is leading the effort to restore and reopen the Ash Park Pool, which has been closed since 2015. The city’s other pool, located at Palmer Park, has been shuttered for at least a decade.

Earlier this year, a splash pad and water play area were installed as part of improvements to Palmer Park. There is also a play area with sprinklers and fountains along the Riverwalk Brandywine Creek Trail. However, the city of more than 13,000 is still without a community pool, and residents want one.

According to a Brandywine Health Foundation report, more than 80 percent of Coatesville residents surveyed think fixing community pools is an important or very important issue.

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