The Flemington-Raritan pool was established in 1963 to provide a swimming area for its private community. In 2019, the pool was gifted to the Hunterdon County YMCA. Prior to this transfer of ownership and management, the pool had been run and maintained by a Board of Directors as well as volunteers. The pool has not been opened since the summer of 2018, due to needed repairs as well as a mandatory shutdown in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the issues stem from the stalled renovation of the facility and the lack of maintenance throughout its extended shutdown. A major renovation was planned under the YMCA’s new ownership, though this was put on hold due to the pandemic, causing such deterioration that it prompted a re-evaluation of the facility and its future.
The YMCA retained Counsilman-Hunsaker to evaluate the pool’s mechanical systems as well as its structural condition. The purpose of the assessment was to identify deficiencies, pinpoint items that do not meet current pool industry standards and identify pool equipment that is not operating as designed. To assist in defining a course of action regarding the future of the facility, two options were presented including an opinion of the probable construction cost for renovation or replacement of the facility.