As the cold beginning of the year continues, county officials are already planning for warm summer days.

With that in mind, the pool at Alameda Park is set to undergo some improvements.

In Thursday’s Eagle, staff writer Steve Ferris told us the county commissioners on Wednesday, Jan. 17, approved a $37,500 professional services agreement with Integrated Aquatics of Doylestown to prepare bid specifications for the project and inspect the construction work once it begins.

While commissioners work on that, staff writer Eddie Trizzino told us in the same edition of the Eagle that Butler County Parks and Recreation is hosting a contest where the creators of snow art will compete for 2024 memberships to Alameda Waterpark.

Work on the pool was spurred by the discovery of pockmarks — concave, craterlike depressions — on the bottom the pool last year.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel said four or five core drilling tests conducted to find out what caused the pockmarks discovered no problems in the ground under the pool, and no other repairs were deemed necessary.

Pools can be costly to maintain, so the minimal work that needs to be done on the pool is good news. And it’s scheduled to be done before the month of April has ended, so the contest winners likely will be able to take advantage of their prizes the first week of June.

Jacob Bartholic, program manager of the parks and rec department, said parks and rec staff, including members of the park advisory board, will choose the winners of the contest after its March 1 deadline.

Pictures of snow art can be emailed to the department before the deadline at AlamedaPark@co.butler.pa.us.

The pool and water park at Alameda Park are great for the county’s taxpayers. They provide a safe place for students out of school for the summer to have fun and stay cool. The work being done ensures the pool’s ongoing availability, and the contest draws attention to the park.

We applaud the county’s efforts to keep the pool well maintained, and we applaud Bartholic and his team for drawing attention to the park and what it has to offer.

— RJ