milwaukee-abandoned hoyt park pool

[CGII]

Went on a venture to a pool of my childhood in Wauwatosa, which was eerie, as it's been abandoned since 2003, following two years of heavy frosts yielded significant damaged to the concrete of the pool. 2002 was the last year for swimming as it was unable to be filled in 2003. It was built in 1939 and was always popular. Currently a neighbourhood group is raising funds to reopen the pool.

It's not a terribly long thread, but I threw together a soundtrack, anyway.
http://media.putfile.com/Drum-And-The-Uncomfortable-Can






















Some pics from September:






Ta ta bitches.

[Tom In Chicago]

They should turn that into a skateboard park. . .

[i_am_hydrogen]

Amazing stuff. This touches a personal chord with me.

Like I said in another thread... During the summer, I literally spent every day at Hoyt when I was younger. Hell, I was going there even before they put the huge slides in. It's really unfortunate that it will never reopen again. The place was an institution. I was actually just there when I was in Milwaukee over Thanksgiving. I hadn't been there in probably 15 years (I'm 28). It was really strange and sad seeing what's become of the place. I can remember this wonderful pool during the summertime. Sparkling blue water. People everywhere. And then I found myself staring at this exposed, overgrown expanse of decrepit concrete.

[mikeelm]

Are there any other public pools in the city that are like this? And if this is the only one why are they having such a hard time keeping this in repair?

[CGII]

Originally Posted by mikeelm

Are there any other public pools in the city that are like this? And if this is the only one why are they having such a hard time keeping this in repair?

There are not many like this now, but future budget plans call to close 43 pools in the county (you can thank Scott Walker later), so soon enough there will be plenty like this. It's difficult to maintain because the concrete basins wear easily, lots of water and the extreme temperature changes Milwaukee weather don them make for fast deteriorating pools. This one, fast approaching 70 years old, had age as a majour factor working for it, as well.

[Ex-Ithacan]

So sad to see recreation areas bite the dust. Sad to for those with fond childhood memories. But perhaps the saddest thing is I don't know where I'm going to swim now when I visit Milwaukee:











Seriously, haunting pics CG.

[roner]

I've actually used this pool many times before. I did a year in high school at Wauwatosa East back in 92'. The pool was bumping in the summer, and that park is nice. What a shame it's closed.

[Milwaukee, WY]

Was just there on Friday. Like you, I spent endless hours at this pool during my childhood and have many fond memories there. It broke my heart to see it in it's current state. Looks even worse than these picures now three years on. There were signs around the park from the community group who are raising money to bring the pool back indicating a groundbreaking for a replacement pool on Saturday. Only thing is, it should never have needed replacement in the first place. Thanks Scott Walker.

[llamaorama]

sucks

Wow, 43 pools to close. How many pools are there, are they shuttering all of them?

[i_am_hydrogen]

Umm, what made you decide to bump this thread?

Friends of Hoyt Park has finally raised enough money to re-open the pool. The catch is that visitorship will be restricted.

http://www.wauwatosanow.com/blogs/co.../96494524.html