BENTON, Pa. — Sweltering summer days are fast approaching, but those burning for a dip in Lackawanna State Park’s pool will have to cool their heels.
The state park in northern Lackawanna County announced Sunday that “unforeseen construction delays” pushed back the William W. Scranton Pool Complex’s opening day, which typically is Memorial Day weekend.
Lee Dillon, the park’s manager, said the ongoing work to replace the pool’s liner recently hit a snag when needed project materials arrived late.
The pool is on track to reopen this year, Dillon said, but an exact timeline was unknown. He acknowledged the frustration some feel at the delay and expressed hope it would reopen this season.
The pool has not seen a swimmer in years. The need for a new liner closed the pool during the 2023 season and a lack of lifeguards curtailed the 2022 season. Those same staffing issues caused stops and starts in the 2021 season.
The Benton Township pool complex opened in 2016 after two years of construction and $1.6 million in state funds. It replaced a complex that first opened in 1972.