MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Due to low staffing and funding issues, several pools in Milwaukee County are remaining closed this summer.

“We are running a deferred maintenance back log of over $500 million,” Milwaukee County Parks Director of Planning Sarah Toomsen said. “We open what we can operate with the money that we have and the staffing limits that we have.”

The Washington Park pool closed in 2019 and has not opened back up since.

“It’s been really sad to not have a pool,” Milwaukee resident Wes Tank said. “I think there’s a lot of families around here that really need a pool.”

Milwaukee County Parks is working on an alternative that would give families a place to cool down during upcoming summers.

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The splash pads would cost the county less to operate and would require less staffing to run on a day-to-day basis.

“We’re looking at this new recreational trend that’s taking place across the nation with these gigantic splash pads with water slides with different fun elements,” Toomsen said.

The plan is to install the first revamped splash pad at Washington Park, replacing the pool that closed in 2019.

Despite the plans, there are still some concerns about the pool fully going away.

“I think we need a pool, even if it’s a small exercise pool, it doesn't have to be the big, gigantic Olympic swimming pool, just something where kids can learn to swim,” Tank said.