El Prado Pool in South Phoenix to remain closed due to vandalism

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - When Memorial Day weekend hits, the El Prado Pool in South Phoenix is usually packed with families looking to cool off.

Sadly, that won't be the case this year. The pool, due to open this Memorial Day weekend, will remain closed because vandals set fire to the pool building.

The incident happened early Saturday morning. Once inside, the vandal or vandals started a fire in the main office area.

"It's a horrible thing," said Julie Fann. "There's been quite a bit of vandalism around here."

Fann lives in the neighborhood right across the street from the pool. She says many families in the surrounding neighborhood use the pool a lot during the summer. She's heartbroken the pool will not be opening this Memorial Day weekend, because of the vandals.

City officials did not want to share pictures of the damage inside the pool facility, but smoke and flames marks on the exterior were seen in video taken by the SkyFOX Drone. Work crews put up fencing to keep people out of the area for now.

The city is encouraging people to instead go to Alkire Pool, located on 1617 W. Papago Street, or Roosevelt Pool, located on 6246 S. 7th Street.

Fann, however, says the cool waters of El Prado will be sorely missed, as the temperatures soar.

"Heartbreaking, because everybody here uses it constantly," said Fann. "It's full from the morning until the evening. Supplies the kids with something to do, and parents someplace to take them."

Both alternative pools mentioned above are 2 miles to 3.5 miles away from El Prado. The City Parks and Rec Department didn't have a timeline on when this pool might reopen.

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