Grants Pass, OR – The Grants Pass City Council voted Tuesday evening to indefinitely suspend the renovation of the Caveman Pool, a move that reallocated over $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds originally designated for the pool to public safety initiatives. The 50-year-old pool is currently the only public swimming facility in the city.
Councilor Dwayne Yunker, one of the proponents of suspending the renovation, expressed concerns about the previous council’s decision to move forward with the multi-million dollar project. He described the decision as “hasty” and argued that alternative ideas and viewpoints had been overlooked during discussions. “There were other ideas, and there were people on the council that were being ignored because certain people wanted the pool for them,” Yunker said. “We’re asking to suspend it, since there is such a new council and for them to re-look at this and say, ‘Is $6.5 million worth spending today?’”
Despite the council’s decision to halt the renovation, Yunker clarified that this does not mean the pool will be closed or permanently removed from consideration. Rather, the council is choosing to reevaluate its priorities in light of current needs and available resources.
Councilor Rob Pell, the only council member who voted against suspending the project, defended the original plan and countered Yunker’s criticism. Pell emphasized that no one on the previous council had been ignored, but simply outvoted. “The support for the community pool is huge,” Pell said. “It would probably be used more if the old facility had more amenities.”
Pell argued that the pool project should not be abandoned but rather enhanced with additional amenities that would serve the community better in the long run. His comments reflect a divide within the council about how best to balance the needs for public recreation and public safety in the city’s budget.
The decision to reallocate the ARPA funds to public safety highlights the council’s current focus on addressing what they see as more urgent community needs. With public safety taking precedence, the future of the Caveman Pool project remains uncertain, as the council has only suspended the renovation and not fully canceled it.
The city’s residents, who have expressed strong support for the pool, will likely be watching closely to see whether the council revisits the project in the coming months. For now, the fate of Grants Pass’s beloved pool hangs in the balance as the city navigates its priorities for both public recreation and safety.