Parks department authorizes repairs to Cumberland Falls pool

The pool at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park will be open for business in 2016.

Officials with the Kentucky Department of Parks announced Friday that $150,000 has been allocated to replace the pool liner and make any other needed repairs.

Cumberland Falls Park Manager Roy Johnson said last week that after several years of patching, the pool liner was beyond repair, forcing the closure of the pool until the funding could be found to purchase and install a new liner.

Johnson estimated the cost at $132,000.

State Representative Regina Bunch, R-Williamsburg, whose district includes the park, thanked Governor Matt Bevin for listening to her and seeing that the funding was made available.

In addition to being one of the three public pools available to residents of Whitley County, Bunch noted that the pool is one of the drawing cards that entices people to stay at the park for more than a day.

“There is little pool access in this part of the state for those who live here and vacation here, and that’s why the pool at Cumberland Falls State Park is such an important resource,” Bunch said. “Our state parks have been neglected for too long, but thankfully we are reversing that trend, beginning with this important project.”

Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Donnie Holland said repair work will begin in late spring and is expected to be completed by August.