Gowanda pool demolition is underway

Sep 16, 2025

Braden Carmen
Reporter
bcarmen@observertoday.com

OBSERVER File Photo Demolition of the Gowanda school pool is underway.

GOWANDA - Demolition of the Gowanda Central School District pool is underway. Gowanda Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson provided an updated timeline on the project at the latest Board of Education meeting.

The district hopes to complete its renovations to the pool by this coming spring. Once the project is complete, the district will seek lifeguards and recreation uses for the pool, with a target for school programming next school year.

The pool project replaces a failed HVAC unit and tiles that led to substantial leaks when refilling the pool last school year. The District consulted with Young and Wright Architectural, who oversaw the emergency repair project with the help of Buffalo Construction Consultants.

The Board voted in favor of a long-term solution to address the pool, with a lifespan of approximately 25 years, including replacing the tiles entirely. The cost is estimated at $1.7 million.

Earlier this year, the Gowanda Board of Education passed a resolution authorizing the expenditure of up to $1.3 million from the District's Repair Reserve Fund and up to $400,000 of the District's unappropriated funds from the General Fund to cover the estimated cost of an Emergency Capital Project to repair the District's pool. The District will utilize its reserves to fund the project without requiring any additional tax increase to its residents.

Also at its recent meeting, the Board of Education approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the district and the State University of New York Research Foundation for the purpose of a partnership to foster the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at Gowanda.

Four different organizations presented the district with donations to support the Gowanda Trap Team, including The Federated Sportsmanship Club ($400), Collins Conservation Club ($300), The Gowanda Rifle Club ($250), and Gowanda Lodge No. 1382 ($100). Anderson offered thanks to the organizations for their donations.

The next meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.