While it is technically owned by the Borough of Lansford, the Lansford Pool for decades has been a destination for families from all over the Panther Valley.

Now, with the pool shuttered and in need of expensive renovations, a group of residents are coming together to try to help get it reopened.The Friends of the Lansford Pool are planning to hold fundraisers and possibly seek grants to reduce the borough's share of the renovations."It's people from all the communities working together, as kind of the way the Panther Valley has always been. The area worked together for a goal," Friends President Nathan Halenar said."We want to try to ensure that the pool can be refurbished and an asset to the community for generations to come."The Lansford Pool needs a complete overhaul of its leaking filtration system, which last year caused the borough to use millions of gallons of water to keep the pool open. A consultant hired by the borough says it will take upward of $800,000 to reopen the pool.The Friends group, made up of residents from Lansford, Summit Hill and surrounding communities, are planning several fundraisers in the coming months. They are also seeking nonprofit status.Halenar said the fundraisers will not only raise money directly for the project, but hopefully create awareness of the movement to renovate the pool."We're looking for sponsorship opportunities, donors, it's not just going to be cake and coffee making us 800 grand," he said.The group is also trying to get in touch with an area resident who started an online fundraiser for the pool. Supporters have pledged more than $2,400 to a GoFundMe account with the stated goal of helping keep the pool open.Councilwoman Rose Mary Cannon, who sits on the borough's recreation board, says that the group is evidence that the pool is important to Lansford and the surrounding area."Having a group like this makes council aware that there is a lot of community support for the pool, not only in Lansford, but in the surrounding communities," she said. "And it makes us aware of what an asset we have in the Lansford Pool."The borough also has some money in its pool account, but Halenar said that is a drop in the bucket compared to the final cost."We're off to a good start, there is some startup money for us there. Very limited startup money," Halenar said.In the meantime, Lansford residents who used the pool last year will have the opportunity to get into the Tamaqua Pool at the same cost they paid last year. Memberships will be available for a limited time - May 10-12 and May 17-19. On those dates, passes will be sold at the borough office on Ridge Street between 10 a.m. and noon, and at the pool office between 5 and 7 p.m.The first fundraiser will be held at the pool, coinciding with nearby Coaldale Borough's yard sale on June 21-22. Residents can also keep up with the latest fundraisers by liking the "Friends of the Lansford Pool" Facebook page."Like anything we do around here, the towns stick together, so I think the four towns will once again stick together in this effort," Halenar said.