Submitted photo
Volunteers help paint the bottom of the Central Juniata Park Pool in Mifflin.

MIFFLIN — For more than half a century, the Central Juniata Park Pool has quietly anchored the community. Generations learned to swim there, teenagers worked their first summer jobs behind the concession stand and families escaped the heat under the hum of filters and the splash of the diving board.

But keeping a small‒town pool open in 2026 looks nothing like it did when the park’s shareholder model was created decades ago, said Board President Don Bratton. Rising costs, aging infrastructure and a shrinking pool of active shareholders forced a hard truth to the surface — if the pool was going to survive, something had to change.

That change came April 29, when shareholders voted unanimously to transition Central Juniata Park and its pool from a shareholder‒run entity to a nonprofit governed by a board of directors, Bratton said. The move ends the decades‒old shareholder structure and opens the door to grants, tax‒deductible donations and a more sustainable future.

Of the 338 outstanding shares, 77 were represented at the meeting, either in person or by proxy. Ninety‒five letters mailed to shareholders came back undeliverable — a sign of how many original supporters have moved away or passed on. Shanna Varner facilitated the meeting as shareholders asked questions and voiced concerns before agreeing that a nonprofit model was the only way forward.

Immediately after the vote, Bratton said the board adopted a resolution to begin the transition. All shares were terminated as of April 29 and are no longer transferable. Updated bylaws and policies were approved to reflect the new direction.

Bratton believes the decision ensures the pool can pursue funding opportunities that were previously out of reach. “Central Juniata Park has always been a community effort,” he explained. “We’re grateful for everyone who has stepped up to help, and we welcome anyone who wants to be part of keeping the pool strong for future generations.”

The board also made clear that longtime supporters will not be left behind. For the 2026 season, individuals who previously held a shareholder share — along with members of their immediate household — will receive free daily admission. Season passes will be issued upon a shareholder’s first visit, with identification required to confirm eligibility. The pool will remain open to the public, offering daily admission, season passes and private party rentals.

Even with rising costs — chlorine prices are up 20 percent this year — the pool will offer free admission on opening day, June 2, thanks to donations from the Juniata County Prevention Board. The group will cover the anticipated revenue from admission and host informational tables with vouchers for free food for children.

Daily admission is $6, with ages 3 and under free. Individual memberships cost $100 and $200 for families of up to five.

Keeping a pool built in 1963 isn’t easy. Bratton and volunteers have used grants and donations to modernize the facility, recently completing repairs to fix a severe leak. “We patched two rusted lines — old cast iron lines,” Bratton said. “We bought the materials, but the contractors donated their time.”

When asked why he keeps fighting to preserve it, Bratton’s answer is simple. “We taught 200 swim lessons last year,” he said. “To me, it’s a real blessing for the community to have it. Mifflin and Mifflintown are within walking distance.”

For most families, the transition will be invisible. Kids will still cannonball off the edge, parents will still gather and the rhythms of summer will unfold as they always have. But behind the scenes, the April 29 vote marks the beginning of a new chapter — one aimed at preserving a beloved community resource by adapting it to the realities of today.

In a small town, a pool is more than a place to swim. It’s a gathering spot, a memory‒maker, a symbol of continuity. And now, thanks to a difficult but necessary decision, Central Juniata Park and its iconic pool are positioning themselves to keep those memories flowing for decades to come.