Hopkins Park Pool to reopen in September after closing over safety concerns 1 year ago

HOPKINS, SC (WOLO) — A popular community swimming pool in Hopkins is set to reopen later this summer after closing its gates around one year ago.

In May of 2023, inspectors with the Department of Health and Environmental Control shut down the Hopkins Park Pool over safety and well-being concerns — with the closest community pools nearby being in Eastover and Columbia.

Hopkins community member and former teacher, Lillie Bates, says the pool was an important part of the community, and she’s looking forward to it’s reopening for her children and grandchild to enjoy.

“They learned to swim, my children, they’re adults now, but they learned to swim and have enjoyed it. It’s the closest pool to us. And they used to give lessons during our days, and you know it’s just helpful and good for the community and all the children, they always enjoyed it,” Bates says.

After hearing feedback and concerns from the community, members of the Richland County Recreation Commission say reconstruction is set to begin, which will include replacing the aging pool shell, plumbing, and filtration system.

The official contract for the pool’s renovation has been awarded to Genco Pools and Spas. Anthony Lawrence is an architect with MOTA Design firm, overseeing the project.

“We understand and we’ve heard over and over again that the people in this community want their pool back,” Lawrence says.

According to Lawrence, both the pool and pool house will be renovated, restrooms and changing areas will be upgraded, and an open air pavilion with picnic tables will be built as well.

“The capacity of the pool has to be maintained and will be maintained, but because of new code regulations, we’re gonna do an in-fill of the pool to make it just a little bit shallower, so that the recirculation time that’s required by code now, will be able to be met, and that’s one of the creative things that we did to try and save the Richland County Recreation Commission some costs, otherwise it would’ve been more than three times the cost had we decided to dig this pool up and come in and build a new one,” Lawrence says.

Richland County awarded the Recreation Commission a total of $385,000 through its Community Development Block Grant program to help pay for the renovations. The Recreation Commission provided a 25% match of $96,250.

Councilwoman Chakisse Newton believes Hopkins is all about community.

“We all play together, eat together, worship together, and we can now enjoy and re-create together. And it’s really important because when you are far out from other places, it’s important to have resources close to home that you can enjoy,” Newton says.

Lawrence says the pool and all renovations are expected to be complete by the end of September.