Will take three months to fix dam, upgrade area

Construction is about to begin on repairs to Huddleston Pond that will allow it to return to its full level again.

Most of the work will center on the dam, which was found to have significant problems in March 2006. The city recently got its final buffer variance permit from the state, City Manager Bernie McMullen reported at last week’s City Council meeting.

With that permit in hand, construction will begin shortly and is anticipated to take three months, meaning it should be done by the first of the year.

The project includes replacing the dam’s leaky spillpipe, which city officials initially tried to repair but were unsuccessful. Also, the grade of the dam will be flattened somewhat and a number of trees must be removed as the roots were causing part of the problems for the spillpipe.

The pond’s pool level was lowered in March 2006 when the initial problems were found, and the city drained the lake almost completely in September 2006 after more extensive problems were discovered.

The lake’s size will increase after all the work is completed, and the city plans to replace the existing exercise equipment with new models, including some designed for older adults. It will cost about $40,000 to upgrade the exercise equipment and to add new playground equipment according to city estimates.

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