Community rallies to bring back Dartington's much-loved outdoor pool
The Meadowbrook Extravaganza returns on 11 July, bringing live entertainment, family fun and fundraising together as the campaign to reopen Dartington's historic outdoor swimming pool gathers momentum.
Dartington's biggest community fundraiser of the year is set to return this month as residents continue their campaign to bring back the village's much-loved outdoor swimming pool.
The Meadowbrook Extravaganza will take place at Meadowbrook Community Centre on Saturday 11 July, from 12pm to 5pm, offering a packed afternoon of entertainment while raising funds to support plans to reopen the pool.
Visitors can enjoy live music, a dog show, bouncy castles, a football tournament, family sauna sessions, a barbecue, raffle, games, food stalls and children's activities.
The annual event supports the campaign to restore Dartington's outdoor swimming pool, which closed in 2022 after serving the community for almost 50 years.
Originally hand-dug by local volunteers in 1973 using borrowed equipment, the pool became a focal point for generations of families, with many local children learning to swim there.
Since launching the campaign, organisers have secured planning permission for a replacement pool, appointed a quantity surveyor and begun work on a five-year business plan as they seek funding to bring the project to life.
Urszula Kossakowska, of the Dartington Recreation Association (DRA), said: "For nearly 50 years, local children learned to swim in this pool. We want today's children to have the same opportunity—not just for fun, but for confidence, wellbeing and the life skill of being able to swim safely.
"Of course people have wonderful memories of the pool, but this project isn't just about looking backwards. It's about creating something future generations can enjoy and giving our community an asset it can be proud of for decades to come."
Plans include a new 25-metre outdoor pool, longer than the original, featuring improved accessibility and sustainable heating. The facility would also be available for local schools to deliver swimming lessons and water safety training.
Urszula said the campaign had made significant progress over the past year.
"This time last year we had a vision. Today we have planning permission, professional expertise around us and a clear roadmap for delivering the project. It still won't happen overnight, but we're much closer than we were 12 months ago.
"The Extravaganza is a brilliant day out in its own right, but it is also an opportunity for people to see the progress we've made, ask questions and become part of the next chapter in bringing the pool back to Dartington.
"Fifty years ago local people came together to build this pool with little more than determination, volunteer effort and a borrowed digger. We're hoping that same community spirit can help bring it back."
The DRA is working alongside Sporting Assets, specialists in community sport and leisure, to develop a long-term business plan designed to attract major funding and ensure the pool's future sustainability.
James Mathie, of Sporting Assets, said: "There has been a renaissance of outdoor swimming and pools, and that is particularly evident in Devon.
"The DRA and its team of volunteers have made great progress revitalising and developing the facilities at Meadowbrook. A strong business plan will help clarify the future business model, demonstrate the project's impact to funders, and support long-term sustainability at Meadowbrook."
Organisers hope this year's Extravaganza will not only raise vital funds but also inspire more people to get behind a project they believe will benefit the community for generations to come.