The Elks Pool, as it's currently known, will be no more.

But a new and better pool will take its place in 2006.

Bismarck Parks Director Steve Neu told the park board Thursday that after deliberation and considering public input, the district should demolish the pool this fall, then by the end of September establish a committee to decide what should go there instead. A report will be given by Jan. 20, 2005, and construction at the Elks Pool site would start next spring for a 2006 opening.

The 72-year-old Elks Pool was shut down this summer because of mechanical problems. The park district hired a consultant to study other options for the site. Among the recommendations were a splashpark, patching the problem for about $150,000 or building a new pool for up to $2.5 million. Neu said after a meeting last week, it was evident people want the location to include a pool.

Park Board President Dan Hovland said the public input was welcome, but he was distrubed by negative comments regarding a "hidden agenda" for Elks Pool, and lack of planning on behalf of the district. He said neither allegation is true, but that the board wanted to do the best it can with tax dollars, and if that means going another route, so be it.

"I'm concerned we would put money in and (the pool ) still not work. It's better to spend the money to do a new project and do it right," he said.

The committee also will examine what kind of pool and water facilities exist in the area and what more is needed. They'll look at funding, location, programming and operation of an indoor pool to be built in the future, and a facility to eventually go up in north Bismarck.

De Lila Gehring moved to Bismarck last month from Phoenix, where she swam every day. Since moving to Bismarck, she's been swimming at McDowell Dam. When she expressed her disappointment about the lack of an public indoor facility to the park board, Neu said that building an indoor pool has been on the district's agenda for 20 years, but there's never been massive support until now.

"You're not going to find any disagreement from us that there is a need (for an indoor pool), but there are a lot of players to be involved," Hovland said, listing the school district, city commission and YMCA as key players.

Signe Snortland, a resident of the Elks Pool and Custer Park neighborhood, was concerned that forming a committee won't guarantee a pool at the site. Neu assured her that the group will be directed to determine the best option that will serve the most people. There'll be a pool there, he said, but it may be combined with a splashground or other activities.

Marete Snortland-Banks, Signe Snortland's 12-year old daughter, canvassed the neighborhood with her 15-year-old sister and a 14-year-old friend, Emily Sakariassen. The younger two described themselves as "pool rats," and are sad to see the pool where they learned to swim go.

This year, they didn't swim at all, except for a couple times at Sakariassen's grandparents' home when it was really hot. They don't like the waves at Wachter Pool, and Hillside isn't deep enough for them. And if the committee picks a zero-depth pool, which starts shallow before reaching about 5 feet, they won't be happy with the results.

The girls presented 200 signatures on a petition to save the pool at last week's public meeting and gave the board another 37 Thursday. Their efforts to be swimming - and tanning - in their neighborhood next year may have failed, but they'll wait a couple years and return to their summer haunt.

"It's a given they'll tear it down anyway, but I don't think they need a lot of fancy stuff. Just make it a little better," Sakariassen said.

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)