By By Matthew Nascone
The Poarch Creek reservation will have a cool place to go when the hot, scorching temperatures of the summer arrive, their own community pool.
The pool is located to the side of the gymnasium and behind the tee-ball fields on the reservation. The pool project includes more than just a swimming pool. Also included in the $1 million-plus project is a children's pool, a Jacuzzi and four classrooms for the after-school programs offered on the reservation.
"It is going to be awesome," reservation activities director Trent Jackson said. "Everyone from the children to the senior citizens are waiting for the pool to be finished."
Jackson said he is glad the pool is near completion because it will give the children of the reservation another alternative to getting in trouble.
"It will help keep the kids off the streets," he said.
Jackson said after the initial project is completed and the pool is open work will begin on adding offices to the pool area so the workers at the athletic building will not have to tread on the grass in between the gym and the pool.
Martin Construction has been handling the pool construction and Jason Griffey of Martin Construction said the firm hopes to be through with the Linda Gail Rolin Parker Activity Center sometime in March.
"It should be done by March, Griffey said. "We are on the finishing touches now."
Chestang Construction was in charge of laying the slab on the bottom of the pool.
The Poarch Creek athletic complex will be receiving another facelift in the coming months after the pool construction, Jackson said. The reservation will be building a football field somewhere on the land. Jackson said the exact location has not been decided, but the grant is already approved and the money is squared away. All that is left to do is start construction.
"With the success of our football programs last year we want to have a place for our kids to play home games since we had to travel for every game last year," Jackson said.