WEIRTON — Starvaggi Memorial Pool is expected to have one more summer season before the Weirton Park Board is able to move forward on its long-planned renovation project.

The replacement and renovation project has been in the works for several years, as a result of ongoing loss of water, with the board previously anticipating being able to begin this past fall. Higher-than-expected bid proposals, however, forced the board to hit the pause button and rethink their approach.

“We’re working on designs right now,” noted Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle, during Thursday’s Park Board meeting, explaining a review of how to finance the project also will be needed after much of the funds allotted for improvement projects by a previous city administration have been spent. “We’ll have to go back to the drawing board on how to fund it.”

New designs are anticipated to be complete in May, Shingle said, as the board continues to work with PMV/SASI Architect and Engineering.

Through a discussion with board members, Shingle explained current plans are to close the pool on the weekend of Aug. 15 and 16, and begin work in the days after.

“It would start with demolition of the vessel itself,” Shingle said.

Board member Anthony Capp noted the quick turnaround.

“We’re going to get moving pretty fast,” Capp said.

Shingle explained the contractors involved in the initial work want to be able to get concrete work completed with plenty of time to be able to open the pool for the 2027 season.

The board previously discussed a phased approach to the project, focusing first on the redesign and reconstruction of the pool vessel and plumbing, then later to the pool deck and then other elements.

Original designs for the new look of the pool included a smaller footprint and a zero-entry area. The board initially had budgeted around $1 million; however, the most recent lone viable bid package was for $4 million.

Shingle said they are still targeting a $1 million to $1.5 million project cost.

“Part of it is going to depend on what we can save or carry over,” he noted, adding he is hopeful the current Weirton Council is willing to help.

Starvaggi Memorial Pool originally opened to the public in 1968.