LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS The River Valley Regional Lock Haven YMCA is nearing its pool’s opening day, with final touches being made to the space.

LOCK HAVEN — In less than a week, the River Valley Regional Lock Haven YMCA’s indoor pool will finally reopen on March 15.

The aquatic facility was closed in 2020 after its 35-year-old HVAC system — or Pool PAK — broke. The cost to fix the large system, which regulates not only the pool water but the entire indoor space where it resides, was estimated to be about $280,000.

With such a large price tag, the Y began conducting a silent donor campaign in 2021 before opening up donations to the public.

Grants from the Clinton County Community Foundation and Clinton County Government’s American Rescue Plan Act funding totalling $150,000; 156 corporate and individual donations of $89,359; $25,000 from the Sons and Daughters of Italy in Lock Haven and a final donation from the city of Lock Haven, the Y was able to reach its goal in mid-2022.

In November 2022, the new HVAC system was delivered and installed. Since then, staff have been hard at work preparing the space and completing various health and safety inspections.

The Y’s directors also hired Sara Phillips as the pool’s programs and aquatic director.

Phillips, a graduate of LHU, previously worked at the Y prior to being hired as its aquatic director.

Phillips told The Express this week that she’s been in the process of hiring life guards to staff the pool and is planning to hold practices to help them reacclimate with the space prior to the opening.

So far, Phillips has hired 10 life guards, but noted she’s looking for others — specifically to fill the 6 a.m. time slot and spots in the afternoons.

When the pool opens, Phillips said there will be open swims, lap swims, swim classes and more. Currently, swim classes will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

“It feels good to be opening,” Phillips said.

One of the class instructors, Harry Bower, said he’s excited to hold lessons again at the YMCA. He said, after the pool closed in 2020, he taught classes briefly at the Mill Hall Community Pool in the summer or had to travel to Williamsport to teach.

“I’m excited. I remember when the Y reopened following COVID and we couldn’t use the pool,” he said. “We’re really anxious to open. We did classes all the time and it’s great to have a pool in our own back yard.”

In celebration of the pool’s upcoming reopening, the Y is waiving its joiner fee from now until March 22. To learn more about the pool, and the wide range of offerings the Y has, visit https://www.rvrymca.org/lock-haven.