A popular Central Coast pool used by more than 70,000 people a year is going to get a much needed renovation, but it means that it will be drained for the first time in decades.
The City of Santa Maria is shutting down the pool at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center for nearly three months, so it can get resurfaced. The Olympic-sized pool has been patched several times over the years, but it hasn't been fully resurfaced in nearly two decades.
Work will start on Saturday, and is expected to wrap up around April 1st. A grant is paying for the nearly $800,000 project.