New pool named for Gilleys

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Bill and Jean Gilley react upon learning the city’s new outdoor pool will be named in their honor. Alderman Rickey Minton made the announcement Thursday during the official pool dedication and groundbreaking. (Amy Satterwhite photo)

McMinnville city officials dedicated the new outdoor city pool to Red Cross volunteers Bill and Jean Gilley in honor of their work and volunteerism, which are thought to have touched thousands of lives.

The “Gilley Pool,” as it is unofficially known at this point, will be officially named by city leaders later but will honor the couple for their years of service to the free swimming lessons program and work on new aquatic facilities.

Alderman Rickey Minton noted the Gilleys’ work, which has spanned for almost three decades, as well as their commitment to a new versatile structure, before the surprise announcement Thursday.

“The pool we will begin building will be fun,” said Minton. “It will be safe. It will have great teaching capabilities and it will offer competitive swimming. It’s open to all, I mean to all people, regardless of your age, regardless of your ability – it will be handicapped accessible – and most importantly, regardless of your status.”

Bill Gilley said after the announcement, made along with the official groundbreaking ceremony at the new pool site, he was honored.

“I feel like if I’ve had anything to do with children learning to swim and becoming safer in the water, I didn’t do it alone. It took the help of all the instructors we’ve trained over the years,” he said.

Work on the new $2.03 million outdoor pool is scheduled to begin in mid-June depending upon the weather. Construction will last about seven months and the sub-soil was said to be in good condition for construction.

“This has been a long, hard-fought battle,” Vice Mayor Billy Wood said. “It’s been a long time coming – 20 years worth of discussion and the last two or three years worth of agony – but it looks like it’s reality now.”

The new pool is a 50-meter competition pool with 25-meter cross lanes and an attached play pool with play features such as rain drops and tumble buckets and a “zero-depth” or beach-like entrance.

Pool accessories include a new bath house, concessions area and ticketing building along with shading devices. It is similar to the outdoor facility in Lebanon and was designed by architect Michael Manous. Contractors are C&H Contractors of Manchester.