Cedar Rapids therapy pool to close March 1

CEDAR RAPIDS - Heating costs that will more than double and low participation led to Mercy Medical Center's decision to close the only therapy pool in Cedar Rapids.

Mercy Aquatics Center, in the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa building, 600 Seventh St. SE, will close March 1.

Warm waters in the center's two heated pools relieve pain and keep muscles functioning for 121 members, many with arthritis, fibromyalgia or other chronic conditions.

Spokeswoman Karen Vander Sanden said the PCI building is switching from a steam line to a self-contained natural gas system on March 1.

Pool heating costs before the 2008 flood were about $2,000 monthly, she said. Estimated costs after the switch to natural gas would be $5,100 per month.

Mercy took over operation of the pool after it closed in November 2007. Physiotherapy Associates had subleased the pool from PCI, but it was not given an option to renew the lease.

Vander Sanden said the therapy pool was heated to 92 degrees. Pool patrons have said low temperatures can do more harm than good.

Letters from Mercy are directing pool users to other facilities, such as ActivEdge, 2120 Edgewood Rd. SW. That pool is heated to 85 degrees.

Gold Pointe Fitness Club, inside the Best Western Longbranch, 90 Twixt Town Rd. NE, raised the temperature of its pool to 90 degrees after the therapy pool at PCI closed in 2007, co-owner Douglas De Long said.

The club still has people using the pool for therapy purposes, he said.

Pool patrons with memberships will be reimbursed on a prorated basis or offered the option to transfer their membership to the Mercy Fitness Center. The center does not have a pool, but has arthritis exercise classes and other programs.

Three Mercy employees that staffed the pool have been offered other positions at Mercy.