According to mayor Byron Brown, the Centennial Pool, located in LaSalle Park along Porter Ave., will be reconstructed next year in time to open for the summer 2009 season. "This pool and its facilities have been closed for too long and I have made it a priority to have the fully reconstructed Centennial Pool reopened in time for next summer," said Brown. "Our residents' quality of life is important and having access to these types of facilities, which will be modernized and fully updated, is essential to maintaining that quality of life." The splash pad located adjacent to the pool will be open this summer and will available to all residents of the area. The $1.8 million reconstruction project, paid through city bond funds, includes a fully reconstructed pool, the renovation of the existing pool building and the installation of a new water filtration and pumping system. "This project has been a long time coming and I'm very appreciative of the mayor's commitment to finally get the Centennial Pool repaired and opened," said Ellicott district councilman Brian Davis. "I also want to thank the area neighborhood residents and their leaders for staying focused on accomplishing this important recreational goal for the community." The design of the pool and its facilities will be completed by this fall, construction will begin in spring 2009 and the facilities will be ready for next summer's swimming season. Hamilton, Houston & Lownie are the project architects, Siracuse Engineering will do structural engineering, and Nussbaumer & Clarke will do additional engineering and surveying.