POINT PLEASANT — The opening of Harmon Park Pool has been delayed.

Point Pleasant’s only municipal swimming pool was supposed to open Memorial Day Weekend but a major waterline leak delayed that opening.

Mayor Brian Billings said the city has found and repaired what it hopes was the biggest obstacle to opening the pool this weekend - that obstacle being a piece of 1.5-inch pipe which had become bent at an angle, creating a hole which allowed water to gush through it. This pipe is supposed to feed water into the pool but the pool could obviously never seem to get filled with the defective pipe.

Billings said the city has contacted a pool inspection company to inspect the entire pool next week, particularly looking for any more leaks and to make sure the electrical system is properly working. Billings said at this point there was no way to know what the company might find or how much it could cost. If major problems are found, Billings said it could easily cost the city thousands of dollars to fix and include tearing up concrete, etc. The pool dates back to the 1980’s and like most municipal swimming pools, the pool is not a money maker for the city but rather a recreational activity for residents, including many local children on summer break.

However, the mayor explained he was sure the pool would open this summer and at this point he said finding the major leak has put the pool in better shape than last year.

The earliest the pool will open will likely be the first weekend in June, Billings said, adding the pool already has its summer help hired and ready to work when opening day arrives. This year’s pool manager is once again Joe Doeffinger and there are 13 employees already hired to work at the facility.

Billings’ office released this official statement about the pool: “The City of Point Pleasant has had many calls on the opening of Harmon Park pool. Due to issues with the pool, the opening has been delayed for at least another week or so. City officials are working diligently to resolve the problems. We are sorry for the delay but we must maintain safety first for all swimmers.”

The Point Pleasant Register will announce the pool’s opening day when that information becomes available.