Newport pool liner replacement hit by weather, material delays; city hopes to open by June 15
June 12, 2026 | Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee
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City officials told the Newport City Council on June 9 that repairs to the City Park pool have been delayed by rain and a shortage of liner material but that crews are close to completing the work.
"We started back working on the pool with the felt and the liner on June 3," said Tim Dockery, who briefed the council on the pool project. Dockery said Rhino Systems, the contractor, began work May 21–22 but pulled personnel when weather forecasts showed prolonged rain. He said crews resumed once conditions allowed and that materials that had been short finally arrived; the city began filling the deep end June 7.
City Administrator James Stinch confirmed staff and contractors have completed filtration, chlorination and lifeguard preparations and said the remaining tasks are liner heat-welding and finishing the kiddie pool. "Once we get the kitty pool lined, we'll start heat welding on Thursday or Friday, and possibly we'll be in a position that we can open on June 15th," Dockery said.
The timeline has been driven largely by weather and the contractor's material estimates, Stinch said. Rhino Systems ordered additional liner material after crews found the original estimate was insufficient. Dockery and Stinch told the council the work completed so far includes demo and partial installation of a multi-layer pool floor (concrete sub-structure, felt, and the new liner).
Why it matters: City Park's pool is a seasonal community resource and officials said a successful reopening would restore daily supervised access for teens and younger swimmers. Dockery told the council the pool typically serves roughly "250 a day" during the season and described reopening as an important public-safety and recreation priority.
Next steps: City staff will monitor weather and contractor progress; the council was told staff will return to report changes in schedule if the June 15 target cannot be met.
The council took no formal vote on the pool schedule; the briefing was an informational staff update.
"We started back working on the pool with the felt and the liner on June 3," said Tim Dockery, who briefed the council on the pool project. Dockery said Rhino Systems, the contractor, began work May 21–22 but pulled personnel when weather forecasts showed prolonged rain. He said crews resumed once conditions allowed and that materials that had been short finally arrived; the city began filling the deep end June 7.
City Administrator James Stinch confirmed staff and contractors have completed filtration, chlorination and lifeguard preparations and said the remaining tasks are liner heat-welding and finishing the kiddie pool. "Once we get the kitty pool lined, we'll start heat welding on Thursday or Friday, and possibly we'll be in a position that we can open on June 15th," Dockery said.
The timeline has been driven largely by weather and the contractor's material estimates, Stinch said. Rhino Systems ordered additional liner material after crews found the original estimate was insufficient. Dockery and Stinch told the council the work completed so far includes demo and partial installation of a multi-layer pool floor (concrete sub-structure, felt, and the new liner).
Why it matters: City Park's pool is a seasonal community resource and officials said a successful reopening would restore daily supervised access for teens and younger swimmers. Dockery told the council the pool typically serves roughly "250 a day" during the season and described reopening as an important public-safety and recreation priority.
Next steps: City staff will monitor weather and contractor progress; the council was told staff will return to report changes in schedule if the June 15 target cannot be met.
The council took no formal vote on the pool schedule; the briefing was an informational staff update.
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