LWB, school district pairing up to explore new swimming pool for Lake Worth High students and city residents

5 days ago
3 min read

Swimming pool at Lake Worth High School, shown here in 2017, was demolished this summer. (SALLY WELSH)

LAKE WORTH BEACH and the Palm Beach County School District have agreed to explore a partnership to build a new swimming pool that would be shared by Lake Worth High School students and city residents.

Although the idea is just conceptual, School Board member Erica Whitfield told city commissioners Aug. 5 that the district has agreed to earmark $8.5 million for a new pool. The city has just under $6 million available for the pool.

Construction estimates are still needed, but Whitfield said the district and city might be able to combine their finances and build a barebones Olympic-size pool for $15 million.

Whitfield, a Lake Worth Beach resident, said she would like the pool to be built on campus along A Street south of the high school football stadium.

But School Board member Gloria Branch expressed liability concerns about a public swimming pool on district property.

“I know you want it on the campus, but I have a lot of questions about liability, it being on the school campus and open on weekends,’’ Branch said when Whitfield brought the idea to the School Board on July 30.

The board and commission gave their respective staffs the green light to work together on a detailed proposal.

“We do have $8.5 million to work with,’’ said Superintendent Michael J. Burke. “That’s not going to be enough to get the whole pool completed so we need a good partner in the city of Lake Worth Beach if we can make that work on our campus or in a nearby park.’’

Lake Worth had a high school swimming pool on campus north of the football stadium along Lucerne Avenue for 60 years until it closed because of outdated equipment and an iguana infestation. Opened in 1962, the pool was demolished earlier this summer.

Demolition of Lake Worth High swimming pool last month. (DUSTIN BOLLING / FACEBOOK)

The city’s public pool at the beach casino has been closed since 2017 and city commissioners have been considering options.

If the city and district join forces, Whitefield suggested building in stages, starting with a barebones pool that could be enhanced.

“We don’t want to take away this pool from our high school students,’’ she said.

At the school board meeting, she said a higher end pool might cost $30 million. She said the city and district can consider reaching out to private donors and selling naming rights.

Also to be worked out: Who will pay for the designs and the annual operating and maintenance costs.

And if the pool is built on campus, there’s a chance the football practice fields would have to be moved.

Another possible issue: A private investment has offered to build and pay for a new public pool somewhere in the city as part of a proposed multi-million dollar overhaul of the city’s beachfront and golf course. It’s unclear how that unsolicited proposal would be affected if the city partners with the school district to build a new pool.

Still, city commissioners and school board members are optimistic about exploring a swimming pool partnership.

“This would be an amazing opportunity for the community,’’ said School Board member Virginia Savietto.

School board member Marcia Andrews said, “This is just the start but we are on a positive roll. We are gonna make it happen. I know there are concerns but we’re going to get it done.’’

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About the author

Joe Capozzi is an award-winning reporter based in Lake Worth Beach. He spent more than 30 years writing for newspapers, mostly at The Palm Beach Post, where he wrote about the opioid scourge, invasive pythons, the birth of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach County government. For 15 years, he covered the Miami Marlins baseball team. Joe left The Post in December 2020. View all posts by Joe Capozzi.