The water is glimmering and the Dormont Pool is opening on time this year, with the swim season to start at noon Saturday.

The historic landmark pool, which had structural problems last year that delayed opening, is ready for swimmers after about $23,000 in work done since last year's season ended, Dormont Manager George Zboyovsky said.

	Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Workers paint the Dormont Pool in preparation for its opening this Saturday. Click photo for larger image.

That money replaced two leaky valves, the ones believed to be the cause of the serious leaking discovered two years ago. It also paid for upgraded piping, caulking, improvements to the temporary shoring on the pool house, and painting and cleaning of the 1920s-era pool.

New projects this year include enlarging the sunbathing area, gleaned when workers pushed the fence back to capture more ground. Also, a guide rail along the front of the pool will protect bathers from errant cars on McFarland Road, which borders the pool on one side.

But this is just the start of the work. Wade Associates, a Harrisburg engineering firm, is working on a feasibility study of the pool, which needs about $700,000 in work to the pool house and more work on filters and pumps, plus a pool lining.

The borough expects preliminary results from the $25,000 study in June and a full report about a month later, Mr. Zboyovsky said.

In the meantime, fund-raising continues on private and public levels.

The borough recently received a $25,000 grant from the Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation, its biggest nongovernmental grant.

"We're still working with the state to get them to up their ante with a [Department of Conservation and Natural Resources] grant," Mr. Zboyovsky said.

The fund-raising goal is about $1.2 million, of which about $312,000 has been raised, including grants.

Friends of Dormont Pool is a group of families who have been working for the past few years to raise money to offset the cost of repairs and ensure maintenance is done. The group has raised about $40,000 and paid for last year's temporary repairs, group spokesman John Maggio said.

That total includes more than $7,000 raised during a Dormont pub tour last month, which he described as "very festive."

"I'm very optimistic about everything," he said, adding the group recently received its nonprofit, 501c3 status, so it can accept funds raised for the pool instead of having to go through the borough.

Former lifeguard Kathy McCauley volunteered her services to the Friends and to the borough to write grant applications.

Scheduled fund-raisers include a beach movie to be shown at the Hollywood Theater sometime this summer and some celebrity appearances at the pool.

Family pool passes for Dormont residents cost $150 for two adults and three children up to age 18. Additional children are $10 each.

Daily admission is free for children under 3, $4.50 for children age 3 to 14, $5.50 for people age 15 to 64 and $4.50 for people 65 and over. Admission is $2.50 for everyone after 6 p.m.

Pool hours are noon to 8 p.m. Until June 11, the pool is open only from 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays, because the majority of the guards are high school students.

The pool's snack bar includes vending machines and on-site pizza and snow cone vendors. Bruster's Real Ice Cream, across the street, recently added Nathan's Hot Dogs to its selections.

For information on the fund-raising effort, go to www.savedormontpool.com.