Bunche Park Pool To Be Restored

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI GARDENS - Work is underway to make an old tradition new again in Bunche Park in Miami Gardens.

The park's pool, where many in the community learned to swim, has been off limits over the last 15 years because it had fallen into disrepair. On Monday, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held to mark the beginning of a restoration. The old one will be demolished and a new one will be put in its place.

"I remember so, so many years ago the graduating class of 65, this pool was already here, we were rolling all over the place," recalled Fanny Arnold who added she learned to swim there.

Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert said it took some time but they are finally able to begin work to restore the pool and park to its former glory.

"When the parks where transferred to us from the county, the pool's structure was not in great shape, so we were forced to take it off line. But taking pools off line has a whole bunch of ramifications. So, when we got here and looked at it and we found that we had to do the whole structure," said Gilbert.

Neighbors are thrilled that they'll have a usable pool in the park again.

"It lets us show that the people in this community exactly what we had and what we were going through and they are going right behind us, something good for them, they can come, they can be safe and they can learn," said Arnold.

"This is the beginning of something wonderful and something great. It's the way we can continue the rich tradition of the Bunche park area with an updated facility and amenities that are worthy of the citizens," said Gilbert.

Construction and restoration of the pool and park is estimated to take two years to complete.