For years, Carmel residents have been asking for repairs to be made to the crumbling concrete at the Veteran’s Memorial reflecting pool at City Center. Now the fixes are finally complete.
“It’s much needed and overdue,” said Dave Bowers, commissioner for the Carmel Redevelopment Commission.
As far back as April 2013, Current in Carmel published a cover story about the coping was improperly installed when the pool was constructed in 2003.
The CRC, the owner of the pool, was unable to sue the general contractor who likely caused the problems. Eden Enterprises, who did the work, filed bankruptcy and closed. Repairs were put on the backburner for years while other financial issues took priority.
The CRC had previously suggested taking more than $600,000 from the city’s rainy day fund to fix the damaged concrete, but that was voted down by the Carmel City Council in December because some on the council felt that the CRC could use its own money to pay for repairs.
After settling a lawsuit and having extra money, the CRC decided in January to spend $460,500 for a contract with the Smock Fansler Corporation.
Repairs were complete and the pool was opened on Thursday, July 2. This was important because the reflecting pool is a popular viewing site for the city’s Fourth of July fireworks display.
“Our goal was to have it open before CarmelFest,” CRC Director Corrie Meyer said. “We are pleased that we are finished and that it looks really nice. It will certainly help the pond be beautiful and truly respect the veterans the way they deserve.”
