Pool News
Child Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba in Splash Pad
Tarrant County Public Health says Naegleria fowleri likely cause of death

Officials confirmed on Monday that a child in Texas died earlier this month after contracting a rare and often fatal brain-eating amoeba at a public splash park located in Arlington.
According to a joint news statement from Tarrant County Public Health and the City of Arlington, the boy was hospitalized on September 5 with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an uncommon and often fatal condition caused by an amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The child passed away on September 11th. According to the news release, no more information about the youngster was published in order to preserve their identity.
What is Naegleria fowleri?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Naegleria fowleri is typically found in soil and fresh warm water such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs (CDC). It can also be found in unchlorinated or poorly maintained pools.
According to the CDC, the organism infects people when water carrying the amoeba enters the body through the nose. According to the CDC, the Naegleria fowleri amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain, where it damages brain tissue.

Water Samples Uncover The Truth
Water samples from the splash pad were collected by city officials and sent to the CDC for additional examination. Thirteen days later, on September 24, the CDC confirmed the existence of the amoeba in the water tests and stated that the splash pad was most likely the source of the child’s exposure.
Arlington officials said the splash pad was closed on Sept. 5 after being notified of the child’s illness and will stay closed for the rest of the year “out of an abundance of caution.” All other public splash pads in the area were similarly closed for the rest of the year.
Records from two of the four splash pads — at Don Misenhimer Park and the Beacon Recreation Center — show that Parks and Recreation employees did not consistently record, or in some cases did not conduct, the water quality testing that is required prior to the facilities opening each day, according to city officials.
A examination of inspection logs at the Don Misenhimer splash pad revealed that water chlorination levels were not logged on two of the three times the youngster was there in late August and early September, according to city officials.
Arlington’s drinking water supply was not compromised, according to city authorities, and the splash pad is fitted with a backflow prevention device designed to isolate its water from the city’s water distribution system.
“We have identified gaps in our daily inspection program,” Deputy City Manager Lemuel Randolph told new sources. “Those gaps resulted in us not meeting our maintenance standards at our splash pads. All of the splash pads will remain closed until we have assurance that our systems are operating as they should, and we have confirmed a maintenance protocol consistent with city, county and state standards.”
Not the first occurrence of Brain-Eating Amoeba
The year before, a 6-year-old boy in Lake Jackson, Texas, ended up dying after he contracted the brain-eating amoeba identified in the water of a splash fountain where he had been playing. A 10-year-old Texas child died in 2019 after fighting a brain-eating amoeba for more than a week. She most likely caught it while swimming in the Brazos River and Lake Whitney near Waco, according to officials.
Pool News
Landmark Aquatic Taps Britton Nielsen and Tim Garner to Lead Utah Growth

Landmark Aquatic is pleased to announce it has promoted Britton Nielsen to General Manager of its Utah market and Tim Garner to Vice President of Construction and Renovation Operations.
As General Manager, Nielsen will lead sales and operations across Utah, with a focus on customer experience, building a strong local team and expanding Landmark’s role as a trusted partner to facility owners and operators.
Nielsen has worked in commercial aquatics since 2014. He started as an estimator and has spent the past decade as a construction project manager, leading projects from early planning through final delivery. He holds a degree in Construction Management from Brigham Young University and a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Utah.
“I’ve spent my career on the project side, so I know what facility owners need from a partner: clear communication, realistic schedules and a team that’s still there after the pool opens,” said Nielsen. “My goal is to build that kind of team here in Utah and make Landmark the first call for anyone who owns or operates an aquatic facility in the state.”
Joining Britton is Tim Garner, who has been promoted to Vice President of Construction and Renovation. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial aquatics construction and renovation, Tim has demonstrated strong leadership in building and guiding teams while delivering high-quality commercial aquatic construction and renovation projects. Tim most recently served as General Manager of Landmark’s Salt Lake City branch. Before that, he was President of CEM Aquatics until Landmark acquired it earlier this year. A Salt Lake City native, Tim holds an MBA from the University of Utah.
“Bringing CEM into Landmark this year has been a great experience, and I’ve had the opportunity to learn from talented teams across the organization,” said Garner. “In this role, I’m looking forward to building on the strengths of each branch, sharing best practices, and helping our teams deliver consistent quality and accountability for every customer.”
These promotions come as demand for new construction and renovation of commercial aquatic facilities continues to grow across Utah, and they position Landmark to serve owners and operators throughout the region with experienced local leadership.
About Landmark Aquatic
Since 1967, Landmark Aquatic has helped communities and organizations bring complex aquatic facilities to life and keep them performing. Today, we are the nation’s largest integrated commercial aquatics platform, providing design, construction, renovation, restoration, and maintenance services nationwide. Our construction-led expertise and long-term service capabilities give customers one trusted partner across every stage of a facility’s lifecycle. For the life of your pool. Learn more at www.landmarkaquatic.com.
Pool News
America’s Swimming Pool Co. Launches Interactive Pool Design Tool for Homeowners

Leading pool franchise introduces a digital experience designed to support early-stage inspiration and connect homeowners with local pool professionals
MACON, GA (October 13, 2026) – America’s Swimming Pool Co. (ASP), the nation’s leading swimming pool service franchise, today announced the launch of its Pool Design Tool, an interactive digital experience exclusively designed for ASP to better engage homeowners earlier on in their pool installation planning journeys. It is intended to support early-stage inspiration and planning by helping homeowners explore design possibilities and connect with their local ASP franchise location, rather than serving as a final design or estimating platform.
Since launching in late February, the Pool Design Tool has successfully helped drive engagement and generate qualified leads across ASP’s franchise network. Important data points include:
- 322 homeowners across 81 franchise markets have entered a ZIP code inside the tool, resulting in dozens of quote requests.
- 73% of visitors are inside existing ASP service markets, showing alignment between homeowner interest and ASP’s ability to service them.
- The tool has generated quote requests across 19 existing territories nationwide, demonstrating broad interest across the franchise network.
“Many homeowners don’t know where to begin when it comes to pool design and installation, and that’s why America’s Swimming Pool Co. wants to step in and help,” said Jimmie Meece, brand president of America’s Swimming Pool Co. (ASP). “As we head into prime pool construction season, more homeowners are spending time researching major backyard projects before speaking with contractors. We want our Pool Design Tool to be the first step in that journey – giving homeowners an interactive way to explore options while setting the stage for more productive conversations with our local pool experts who can bring those ideas to life.”
Now live on ASP’s website, Pool Design Tool allows homeowners to visualize and design a customizable in-ground pool using detailed 3D renderings before requesting a consultation. Homeowners can experiment with various pool shapes, sizes, finishes, decking styles and popular water features, from spas to infinity edges, to see how different combinations might look. By interacting with these design options, homeowners can gain a clearer understanding of the types of decisions involved in building a pool and are better prepared for the initial consultation.
After completing a design, homeowners are prompted to enter their ZIP code and are instantly connected with their local ASP franchise location to set up a consultation to review the plan and discuss next steps. For consumers, ASP expects the tool to streamline planning, reduce redesign timelines and help homeowners move from inspiration to installation faster. For ASP franchise owners offering pool construction services, Pool Design Tool helps create stronger and more productive customer conversations from the start. Key features include higher-quality leads, earlier customer engagement, improved lead routing and a more efficient sales process, as homeowners arrive at consultations with design ideas already in mind.
Alongside Pool Design Tool, ASP is expanding its digital resources to further support homeowners throughout the pool planning process. These enhancements include new pool installation service pages across local franchise websites, localized construction content highlighting the experience of individual franchise owners, and additional educational resources to help homeowners understand pool design considerations, installation timelines and project requirements. Together with the Pool Design Tool, these upgrades have helped increase online visibility, connect homeowners with local pool professionals earlier in the planning process, and generate more qualified leads across ASP’s markets. As a result, the franchise has nearly doubled its keyword rankings related to pool installation and remodeling over the past year.
Since its inception in 2002, ASP has continued to set a higher standard of performance and stability within the industry, cementing itself as a leading swimming pool service brand with the trust of pool owners nationwide. The company is known for its affordable, reliable and knowledgeable service – including maintenance, inspections, repairs, renovations and construction. For more information or to schedule a service, visit asppoolco.com.
About ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Co.
ASP is the largest swimming pool cleaning, repair, renovation and construction franchise in the nation. Founded in 2002 by Stewart C. Vernon, the company is based on the belief that by providing a higher quality pool service at a reasonable price, the brand would raise the industry standards for pool service. In 2005, ASP began franchising and now covers more than 1,500 cities in 25 states across the nation. For more information on ASP’s swimming pool franchise opportunities, click here. For more information on ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Co., visit the website or find us on Facebook @asppoolco.
About Authority Brands
Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands’ companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Co., Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky Electric, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie’s. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology and operational support. See authoritybrands.com for more information.
Pool News
Modern Method Gunite Goes Pink for October

(HOUSTON, TEXAS, October 19, 2026) – Modern Method Gunite (MMG) proudly announces its participation in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by going “Pink” this October.
“MMG has been an active proponent of the fight against breast cancer for more than 10 years,” said Al Escobar, MMG Director of Marketing and Growth. “We wanted to do something impactful in the field to continue spreading awareness, so each year we design specific apparel that team members can purchase and support the program.”
This year’s specialized apparel features slate grey hats and shirts with a pink MMG logo and #StrongerTogether on various shirts. The pink logo symbolizes MMG’s commitment to supporting the fight against breast cancer.
To expand awareness, MMG’s social media platforms will feature photos of team members and builder participation highlighting the apparel and program exposure. MMG has committed to a $2,000 donation to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center to support its cancer research programs.
About MMG
With over 40 years of experience, MMG is a family-owned and operated company known for its exceptional service and innovative solutions. Based in Southwest Texas, MMG’s dedication to quality and customer satisfaction has established its reputation as a can-do leader in the industry.
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