Cass pool reopens, but future of skating rink in doubt

Howard Manly

With about $500,000 worth of repairs and renovations all done —the majority of the funds coming from state coffers — Roxbury’s Melnea Cass pool opens Saturday, putting at least a temporary end to the controversy involving the Romney Administration’s public-private fundraising strategy for state-owned facilities.

The state put in about $450,000 while private donations, most of which came from local corporations, garnered about $57,000, state officials said.

But with budget talks underway at the State House, state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has filed an amendment to enable the state to spend $2.9 million to renovate the pool further as well as the nearby skating rink. The amendment would also include $2.2 million to renovate the Kelly rink in Jamaica Plain.

The measure has already passed a preliminary stage, and if approved by the full legislature, would authorize Gov. Mitt Romney to borrow the $5.1 million. It’s unclear whether Romney would approve such an expenditure.

But those legislative battles are in the near future. At least opening the Melnea Cass pool is on schedule.

In what was called a dangerous precedent, Romney Administration officials approved a radio ad campaign aimed at Roxbury residents to help raise private money to pay for repairs at the pool. The fundraising ads, voiced by former Boston Celtic Robert Parish, were aired on the city’s minority-owned WILD 1090 AM and 97.7 FM.

The ads are no longer being aired.

One state official said the public-private partnership has been successful and conceded that not every community can raise significant amounts of money.

“Some communities don’t have that capacity,” said E. Joseph O’Keefe, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs’ chief of staff. “In this particular case, the bulk of the private donations came not from residents but from corporate entities.”

Children’s Hospital, for instance, donated $25,000 to the Cass pool. As did Citizen’s Bank. Radio One, the owners of WILD, gave $10,000 and free air time for the radio spots.

O’Keefe explained that unofficial private-public partnerships have existed for years, including efforts in a small South Shore town where residents raised $250 to restore a historic flagpole.

But state-owned properties require hundreds of millions of dollars in annual maintenance and upkeep. Two years ago, state officials took an inventory of its property, including the Longfellow Bridge and Storrow Drive tunnel, and learned they needed at least $800 million for upkeep. The state has spent about $200 million so far.

By all accounts, the Melnea Cass pool has been neglected. Built in 1968 by the Metropolitan District Commission, the pool and adjacent skating rink fell into disrepair after the state cut funding in the late 1970s. The skating rink has been closed for years.

The pool has remained open. But it has suffered from clogged plumbing, malfunctioning showers and toilets and storage of hazardous materials.

“There wasn’t even a telephone there,” O’Keefe said.

All of that has changed. New plumbing. New showers. There’s even a brand new water slide.

Wilkerson wants more. In her vision, she says she sees an enclosed skating rink as well as a toddler’s spray pool. Wilkerson’s amendment would pay for all of that, if it receives full approval.

And that remains to be seen.

“It’s a step forward,” O’Keefe said. “But it’s only just that — a step.”