Waltham Celebrates Its New Pool [VIDEO]

, the Waltham communitity officialy has its pool back. 

City and state officials marked the reopening of the Louis B. Connors Memorial Pool with a ribbon-cutting on July 26, just a few days after the pool actually reopened on July 21.

"After lobbying on behalf of Connors Pool, I am thrilled that this important community resources will be opening, directly benefiting the health and recreation interests of area residents," said State Rep. Thomas Stanley in a press release. Stanley told Patch he could not attend the event because he was at the State House wwrapping up the legislative term. 

The pool is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day during the summer season. Parking is available, with restrictions, lot across the street. Admission is free.

The $5.3 million project sports a bathhouse and equipment building as well as canopys to shield patrons from the sun, according to a press release from Gov. Deval Patrick's office. (For a video of the event, including Patrick's remarks, click on the video box to the right.)

Solar panels sit atop the canopys and provide the site hot water and heat for the buildings.

Also, an advanced filtering system reduces the amount of chlorine necessary by removaing more contaminants that other pools, according to the press release. The site also sports family bathrooms, showers, and toilet facilties. 

For swimmers, there are several racing lanes, a children's area and spray devices, according to the press release. Part of the pool is "zero-depth" designed as a safe play space for children. 

Work to rebuild the pool started in 2005 when a committee was formed and by 2007 a new design ahd been issued, according to Ward 5 Councilor Gary Marchese, whose precinct encompasses the pool. State officials, including Stanley worked to secure funding for the project, as part of a larger intitiative to rebuild many of the pools across the state.