Since mid-December, Mingus Park Pool, a staple for swimming recreation in Coos Bay, has been closed. For weeks, an abandoned Christmas tree adorned the pool deck, as a reminder that it was empty of the usual lap swimmers, swim team members, swim lesson students, and aquatic activities that usually grace the waters there. The culprit: a broken boiler, or heating system.
“We have had to completely shut down, lay off employees or reduce hours,” said Helen Dietz, assistant pool manager and swim lesson instructor. “We were unable to finish with our school lessons and lost income from pool rent for swim teams and lap swim.”
The swimming pool closed suddenly in December due to an unfortunate malfunction with its heating system on December 15th, 2023, which caused the water temperatures to drop below the safe level for swimmer safety. Normally, the water temperature is around 81-83 F, but the failure of the boiler made it plummet far below that. Although the boiler wasn’t extremely old, the failure was due to corrosion in some of the tubing in the heat exchange.
“A boiler goes out,” said Kathe McNutt, Mingus Pool Manager and head swim coach for both Marshfield High School and Gold Coast Swim Teams. “It’s just one of those things. But we have a great city staff down there, helping with repairs.”
All of this occurred in the middle of high school swimming season. High school swimmers from both North Bend and Marshfield swim teams were then forced to share the North Bend Municipal Pool, along with accommodating two age group swim teams, Southwestern Oregon Community College’s swim team, swim lessons, and multiple other classes and activities already scheduled at the North Bend Municipal Pool. This meant later practice times for many, changes in bus routes, and an overall upheaval of any aquatic activities in Oregon’s Bay Area.
“Being at a pool that isn’t ours, we had to practice early in the morning,” said MHS swim team member Lily Thompson. “Waking up was really hard. Coach Kathe would have us really think about when to schedule our practices.”
In addition, North Bend Municipal Pool has had a few challenges of their own, as they have faced some challenging staffing issues. They are also just bouncing back after a closure that lasted several years, due to necessary maintenance updates and repairs.
But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mingus Park Pool has raised enough money to move forward with repairs.
“It will open by mid-May,” said McNutt. “It may even be a little sooner. All the parts are ordered, and set to arrive next week or so.”
While this is excellent news, it has taken three to four months of difficult decisions to reach this point. The initial quote for boiler replacement ran approximately $120,000, which was far more than the current budget would allow. After placing the job to bid, however, it was eventually determined that it could be operational for about $75,000. With the pool closed for a few months, the initial shock of $120,000 was difficult to overcome.
“We haven’t had any funds coming in,” said McNutt. “We are still paying salaries.”
The generous Coos Bay/North Bend community has acted like a life ring for Mingus Park Pool. Once word of the closure hit the streets, private donations began to pour in. The City of Coos Bay and McNutt were able to secure a few grants to supplement local donations, and by late March they reached their goal.
“We reached $80,000 through grants and private donations,” said McNutt.
One 8-year-old GCST swimmer, Jensen Rogalsky, even donated his allowance, and travel money toward the pool repair. He first saved $57, which he sealed in a plastic baggie with a note that said “Mony to fiks minges pool.” Later, he requested his birthday money go toward the repairs, and ended up donating $2,000 more to the pool repairs.
“We have also applied for some grant money and are waiting to hear if we have been awarded a grant,” said Dietz.
Anyone wanting to donate to the swimming pool repair process may do so. On behalf of the Pool Board, there is a separate account with the City of Coos Bay that is earmarked for the boiler repairs. Donations are tax deductible and can be submitted either in person at the Coos Bay city offices on Central Ave.
Over the last few months, swimmers have been encouraged to swim at the North Bend Municipal Pool until Mingus Park Pool reopens. When the North Bend facility was closed in 2022 and 2023, Mingus Park Pool was able to operate as the sole public pool in the area. While patrons of the Coos Bay pool weren’t planning to reciprocate the favor so soon, most have been grateful just to have another option.
“We are extremely grateful and glad that the North Bend Pool has been very supportive and helpful to our situation,” Dietz adds.
Mingus Pool is close to the high school, so when the high school season was in progress, it made transportation during daily doubles a little more challenging. Parents were left to ferry students across town, who may have walked to swim practice in the past. During spring break, practices twice a day left many driving through town multiple times to transport their kids. Students were thrown out of their normal routines.
“It just sucked, having to go to North Bend,” said Ella Croson, MHS swim team member. “I was just grateful we were able to have somewhere to swim.”
Many moving pieces have been involved in order to accommodate so many practices at once. Swim teams have sometimes shared the pool at the same time, but it has pulled the swimming community together in some ways.
“Thank goodness we’ve had a place to go,” said McNutt.
While some pool patrons have had to sacrifice their workouts due to the change in venue, most have been flexible. Aside from the COVID-19 national shutdown, this is the only time Mingus Park Pool has been closed for such a long stretch in approximately 26 years. In mid-1998 to early 1999, the pool was closed for several months while it was redone, and a new pool bathhouse was built. There is a plaque commemorating both the remodeled pool and bathhouse construction to those that helped make it happen back then. Also honored for their generosity during that project is Mrs. Vera Richter, who completely funded the pool update. The bathhouse was constructed through general obligation bond funds.
For now, swimmers are getting excited for when the swimming pool reopens. Schools within the Coos Bay School District were in the middle of swimming lessons for their students when the pool went down, and they will be happy to continue with them.
“It means a lot to me, because our pool is a nice facility,” said swimmer and swim lesson instructor Avery Bartholomew, 14. “I like working with the kids, and it will be better for them to get into the regular schedule they’re used to.”
While swim lessons were able to continue at North Bend Municipal Pool, it was different from the lessons at Mingus. As the weather gets better, the community is enthusiastic about swimming outdoors.
“I think the kids like Mingus better because we have slides,” said Croson. “It’s just a lot more fun.
For those waiting to jump into Mingus pool, keep watching the Mingus Park Pool Facebook page, as well as announcements through the City of Coos Bay. Work is being done on the pool now, and updates will be given regularly.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to normalcy,” said McNutt, “and welcoming back all the patrons who’ve made the pool a success.”
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