Catasauqua Recreation and Shade Tree Commission Chairman and Councilman Gene Schlegel reported the borough, with the assistance of state Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd, has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Local Share Agreement account.

Schlegel said the grant is to assist the borough with funds to analyze the options for the Catasauqua Municipal Swimming Pool’s future.

The pool has been closed the last two years due to a leak as well as fundamental structural issues, rendering it unsafe to operate.

The Catasauqua pool closure has been a contentious issue for Catasauqua council members. Months ago, one of the council members noted one of the main reasons she and her family moved to Catasauqua was because of the borough’s large pool and excellent parks.

An earlier analysis by the borough manager indicated as little as 10-12% of the pool attendees were Catasauqua residents.

This prompted the borough president at the time to convey many residents were concerned about a possible $2,000,000 renovation expenditure that benefits only 10-12% of borough residents.

Options are a complete renovation of the large pool at a potential cost of $2,000,000; a replacement with a smaller, more fiscally manageable pool; removing the pool completely without a replacement; or replacing the pool with a “spray park” area.

Schlegel thanked the borough of Coplay for allowing Catasauqua residents to purchase pool passes to use Coplay’s Parkway Pool for this pool season. He and his wife, Mayor Barbara Schlegel, said they negotiated the arrangement.

Catasauqua residents need to call the Coplay Borough office at 610-262-6088 for information about pool passes.