Libby swim pond nearing completion

Libby’s new swimming pond is starting to take shape.

Builders have been working on the feature for a number of months and hope to have it ready to use later this month.

“It is really Marc McCully’s idea and vision,” Libby Parks District Manager Adam Noble said. “We hope to have it operational and open by the middle of June, but if it opens by July, we’ll still be happy.

For years, Libby area residents have clamored for a new pool, but a lack of financial resources made a traditional pool undoable.

The swim pond, which is located next to the Libby fish pond on Fish Pond Road near the Millpond Motocross Park, is a compromise that Noble hopes people will enjoy.

A 5,000-pound liner was placed in the hole Saturday, May 31. Dozens of volunteers joined others to get it in place.

The pool’s dimensions will be about 220-feet by 150-feet. It will be five feet depth.

“According to Montana law, if it is deeper than five feet, we would need a lifeguard and the money isn’t available for that,” Noble said. “We’ll have the appropriate signage in place that alerts everyone to the fact there is no lifeguard and the risk is theirs to use the pool.”

Water for the pool will be diverted from Libby Creek.

Next up is to line the pond with clean sand and contour it. 

"Then we fill it with water," Noble said. "We need to move the access dirt to create a berm of privacy near the nature trail and build the outtake that runs into the fish pond. We’re also having the DNRC cut some trees down that look like their hazardous and cleaning up any access debris, dirt, etc."

Work began toward the end of winter when Libby-based Thompson Contracting began to dig the hole. But after they opted to not finish the work, announced at an April 28 park district meeting, the board opted to hire Urdahl Contracting of Libby to finish the work. 

Board members said Thompson didn’t accept payment for the work.

A number of community members have supported the swim pond effort, including Lincoln County Credit Union, the LOR Foundation and from the county and park district.

“It’s been in excess of $125,000, so we have a lot to be thankful for the support we’ve received,” Noble said.

The county road crew has also worked on the project.

“Brent Teske was very open to my position and understanding of what it takes to get this done, so we’re very appreciative of the work the county has done. It probably saved taxpayers $30,000 to $50,000,” Noble said.

Landscaping will also need to be done and a small nature trail has been incorporated into the plan.

“Hopefully, in the future, we’ll get to the point where we can have grass planted and a sandy beach,” Noble said.

Noble said the pool would operate the way many parks do with it opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m.

“I’m really excited about it, I think the possibilities are cool and I can’t wait to see it open,” Noble said.