MUNCIE, Ind. – The City of Muncie has been forced to close its only public pool ahead of Labor Day weekend after the pool was vandalized and broken into multiple times in recent weeks.
“It’s super frustrating. Everybody looks forward to Labor Day weekend and wrapping up summer everybody wants to be able to use the pool,” said Amber Greene, the director of communications for the City of Muncie. “The reaction from the public has been about the same, ‘This is frustrating, why is this happening, this is why we can’t have nice things.'”
Tuhey Pool is closed early for the season after city officials said vandals broke into the pool’s office, check-in area and concession stand, and vandalized it multiple times in recent weeks.
The damage is estimated to set the city back more than $3 thousand.
“Computers, electronics, monitors, (soda) pop machine, any of the electronics that go along with the pop machine, concessions equipment, food was stolen and cash was taken as well,” Greene.
Word of the closure caught people who went to the pool by surprise.
“It’s a shame that people have to destroy stuff that affects other people, this pool would have been packed. This parking lot would have been packed,” said Todd Swackhamer.
Muncie police are investigating the incidents and city officials said they are reviewing surveillance video to try to figure out who did this.
“I hope they find them and they pay for their crimes,” said Swackhamer.
As for the future of the pool next season, city officials said safety and making sure this doesn’t happen again will be a top priority.
“The silver lining we have here is we do have almost nine months to prepare for next season so I am sure there will be discussions and collaborations between the parks and the city and the YMCA to make sure that opening next year goes off without a hitch,” said Greene.
Anyone with information related to the vandalism incidents is encouraged to contact Muncie police.
