Markle, Indiana – The beloved Markle Pool will stay dry all summer in 2026, the first full-season closure in its decades-long history. An Indiana Department of Transportation bridge replacement project starting in April will completely cut off safe access to the pool, forcing the privately-run park to make the painful call.
Why the Pool Has to Close
INDOT is replacing the aging State Road 116 bridge over the Wabash River just east of Markle. Crews will fully close the road from April through October 2026, leaving only one narrow county road into the park that cannot handle the thousands of cars that flood in on hot July weekends.
“We literally have no safe way for families to reach the pool,” said Markle Fish & Game Club Park board president Rick Ashland in an emotional Facebook post Friday night that has already been shared more than 400 times. “This breaks our hearts, but public safety has to come first.”
The pool normally welcomes close to 15,000 swimmers every summer and brings in roughly 60 percent of the park’s yearly income through admissions, concessions, and swim lessons.
Turning Heartbreak into Progress
Instead of letting the facility sit empty, the board is launching an aggressive renovation plan during the forced downtime.
Work already scheduled for 2026 includes:
- Complete rebuild of the 50-year-old pool house bathrooms and changing rooms
- New concession stand with expanded menu and shaded seating
- Fresh paint on the entire pool deck and new starting blocks for the swim team
- Upgraded filtration system that will save thousands in chemical costs each year
“Most of these projects would take two or three off-seasons to finish,” Ashland told me Saturday morning while walking the empty deck. “Now we can get it all done at once and reopen in 2027 with a pool that feels brand new.”
Community Steps Up After Income Blow
Because the Markle Fish & Game Club Park receives zero tax dollars, losing an entire summer season hits hard. The board estimates the closure will cost them more than $120,000 in revenue.
Within hours of Friday’s announcement, locals started a spontaneous fundraiser titled “Save Our Pool 2027.” As of Sunday afternoon, donors have already pledged more than $18,000 through the park’s website and Venmo.
Longtime swim team mom Jenny Hartman wrote on Facebook, “My kids learned to swim here. My husband and I had our first date here. We’re donating $500 and challenge every family who’s ever made memories at this pool to give whatever they can.”
Donations can be made at marklepark.com/donate, by scanning QR codes posted around town, or by mailing checks to Markle Fish & Game Club Park, PO Box 306, Markle, IN 46770.
The Rest of the Park Stays Open
Good news for families: the playgrounds, fishing ponds, picnic shelters, basketball courts, and walking trails will all remain open seven days a week. The board is even planning extra movie nights, food trucks, and free concerts all summer to keep people coming to the grounds.
“We’re still your park,” Ashland emphasized. “Just no splashing for one year.”
Construction on the SR 116 bridge is scheduled to wrap up by November 2026, meaning the pool should reopen Memorial Day weekend 2027 with fresh paint, new showers, and what many are already calling the biggest comeback story in Huntington County history.
This small town just proved again what Hoosiers do best: when life hands you a closed bridge, you build a better pool.
What do you think about the closure and the big renovation plans? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’re sharing on social media, use #MarklePool2027 so we can all follow the comeback together.
