Despite rainy skies over 60 runners showed up for the “Run for the Pool” 5K race held on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Superior. The race started at the Old School and circled near the Eva Horning Park and up past the Mineral Community Hospital.

The cost was $25 per runner and walker which started at 10 a.m. and included a T-shirt. Funds raised went to support building a new pool for the town of Superior. There was also a virtual run which allowed people who could not attend the one in town to participate.

“People from Helena to California signed up for the virtual run,” said committee member, Angie Hopwood. “They are people who grew up in Superior and the pool was very dear to them.”

Virtual runners were able to run whenever and wherever they could and then post it on Facebook. Between the virtual and actual runners, they had approximately 150 entries, “we are just thrilled with the support,” said Hopwood.

There were no official prizes except bragging rights, which went to sixth- and seventh-graders Lucas Kovalsky and Decker Milendar, both from Superior. They crossed the line together with a time of 24:40.

Heather Haskins, a fifth-grader was the first girl across the finish line with a time of 26:38. Alberton resident Laura Acker crossed the line as the first adult with a time of 27:26 followed by Superior second-grade teacher Derreck Criner with a time of 27:65.

The current pool, which is located at the Eva Horning Park, was built in 1958 and has fallen into disrepair. It’s currently leaking gallons of water a day, “but if we fix just one thing, then they will have to bring the entire pool up to code,” said Hopwood.

Currently the pool has been grandfathered in under current regulations and codes. It’s not worth repairing and so the small six-person “Superior Swims” committee is starting to raise $1 million needed to build a new one which will be located near the old pool.

The new pool will be similar in size and design as the old one, but they hope to make it more cost-efficient and self-sustaining. The old pool is 12 feet deep and it used to have a diving board.

The new one will be shallower without a diving board. This will make heating and filling it less expensive.

The current pool is out of compliance. For example, it has a drop from 3 feet to 12 feet which is too steep and isn’t a gradual slope like the new one will be. They will also keep the solar panel to help heat the pool which are currently in place with the current pool.

The pool needs to remain full even through the winter in order to keep the walls from buckling said Superior Mayor, Roni Phillips. It costs approximately $30,000 a year to maintain and only brings in about $10,000 during the 10 weeks that it is open over the summer. The town picks up the rest of the tab.

“Chemicals alone costs nearly $9,000,” said Phillips.

There’s no timeline as to when a new pool will be built. The committee just started raising funds this year, “we are just a small group of concerned citizens who want to bring about change,” said Hopwood. The group is a 501(C)3 under the Mineral County Community Foundation.

In addition to fundraisers they hope to get some grant funding. Once the new pool gets built, it will then be turned over to the town for maintenance.