Bellefonte’s Kepler Pool could finally start renovations this year. What to know

Funding frustrations and setbacks have for years delayed the reopening of Bellefonte’s Kepler Pool, which closed in 2020 due to mechanical issues. But, thanks to a seven-figure grant and a recent agreement among neighboring municipalities, renovations could finally start as soon as this spring.

Because funding for the first phase of the three-phrase project was recently secured, Phase 1 is expected to go out to bid in the coming weeks. Construction is then expected to start in the spring, according to officials, with the pool reopening in 2027.

The first phase of the project — which boasts a price tag around $2.9 million — will provide a fully functional recreation and competition pool with all systems, decking and safety equipment. The second phase will be the construction of a $1.6 million children’s area with features like a splash pad and wading pool, and the third phase will be a complete renovation of the bathhouse.

The pool can open and operate without the completion of the second and third phases, which still must secure funding. Timelines were not immediately available for the final two phases.

“At least three generations of Bellefonte area families and children grew up swimming at the Kepler Pool from the time it was built in the early 1970s until its closure in 2020,” read a joint statement to the CDT from Cindy Kunes and Melissa Seig, members of the authority that oversees the pool. “Providing a space for families and friends to gather for swimming, picnics and reunions is vital, as it offers essential opportunities for connection and outdoor activity over ‘screen time.’ ”

The funding was partly received in the form of a $1.475 million grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 2024. But the funding had to be matched by the Nittany Valley Joint Recreation Authority (NVJRA), which was formed in 2013 to oversee Kepler’s operations.

Because the NVJRA was about $400,000 short, it turned to its member municipalities — Bellefonte Borough and Benner, Spring and Walker townships — and requested that they contribute a funding amount proportional to each municipality’s population. The last holdout, Walker Township, agreed to its contribution a few weeks ago at a Dec. 12 meeting, meaning that the funding necessary to start the renovation had finally been secured.

“I applaud and support the authority’s continued effort to bring back the pool for the Bellefonte community,” said state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, who announced with Cris Dush, R-Brookville, of another $200,000 grant through the Local Share Account grant program. “Doing so is a significant undertaking, and they are doing all they can to make this happen.”

Despite the project’s recent financial headway, getting to this point has been much easier said than done for the authority.

Fundraising efforts for the renovations started in 2017, when the NJVRA applied for and received a $337,800 state DCNR grant, and a dollar-for-dollar match from each of the member municipalities for a total budget of roughly $700,000.

When the project was originally put out to bid, construction costs came in at about three-to-four times higher than the $700,000 budget. Then the pandemic hit, and costs increased even more, which ultimately forced the authority to relinquish its grant funding.

In 2022, the authority applied for and was notified that it received a $1.2 million grant, but that money never came to fruition due to a communication error. Then, the authority applied for the recently-secured $1.475 million matching grant in May 2024.

“Beyond providing a space for competitive swimmers and teams to practice and hold competitions, [the pool] offers everyone the chance to recreate and learn water safety — a lifelong skill,” Kunes and Seig said. “Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and many of us are aware of tragedies involving teenagers or older individuals who lacked swimming confidence or proficiency.”

Moving forward, Kunes and Seig hope that the community will continue to financially support the Kepler Pool and its renovations. They have urged those interested in the project to either attend one of the NVJRA’s monthly meetings, or to email questions to NVJRASecretary@gmail.com.