This drawing shows the EDCO Park pool project set to begin after Labor Day in Evans City.

After a rejection last month, a bid to repair and upgrade the EDCO Park pool in Evans City was accepted by the county commissioners Wednesday.

Lance Welliver, Butler County director of parks and recreation, said work will start after Labor Day and is scheduled to be finished before the pool opens next season.

The $496,000 base bid will cover the new zero entry, a ramp and handrail for disabled swimmers, a peninsula between the zero entry and the big pool with an in-water dividing bench where swimmers can sit, various spray features on the peninsula, plumbing for a slide with three raindrop omnipod compatible features, and recirculation plumbing and filtration system replacement.

A second bid of $42,500 will replace the pool's tile with depth markers and rim material that will match the zero entry feature.

A bid of $37,500 will remove and repair weakened or hollow areas of plaster in the main pool, repaint the pool and inject epoxy into any cracks.

Several other features were listed in the bid, but Aqua Pool out of Allegheny County, the only bidder, elected not to bid on them.

Welliver said $740,000 is available for the pool project, so another $73,000 will be spent on upgrades to the bathhouse.

“While this does not solve every issue, it does get the pool up and running and where it needs to be,” Welliver said.

The commissioners rejected a $553,000 bid from a Lawrence County company last month, saying it was too high.

Cindy Caldwell, the longtime EDCO pool manager and EDCO Park Authority board member, said the pool has not had a significant upgrade in its 30-year life.

The authority raised $80,000 to put toward the work, an amount Welliver called remarkable for such a small town.

The remainder of the funds were raised through state and federal grants.

“We are beyond ecstatic that residents and businesses have contributed so much,” Caldwell said, “and just how many people care about their small community pool. It's amazing.”

She said the authority members are now fundraising to replace the pool's original skimmers and repair the main drain. The authority board hopes the money can be raised quickly so the work can be done during the main project.

“So we have all of our people out there searching for funds,” Caldwell said.

She said the board is relieved that major repairs will be completed after years of worry regarding how the funds would be raised to do so.

“Thank you to everyone who supports the park and pool,” Caldwell said.

To donate to the EDCO pool, visit www.edcopark.com and click on “more info” under “pool renovation information.”