One big pool of uncertainty
By DREW KERR
dkerr@poststar.com
Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008
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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Summer swim season arrives Saturday when the doors to the Victoria Pool at Saratoga Spa State Park are opened for the first time this year.
But the Peerless Pool, just up the road in the park, will remain shuttered as park staff continue to repair its floor and sides.
Park Manager Michael Greenslade said Wednesday the pool is getting a new rubber membrane and paint job to seal water leaks.
He said the new coating has to be done gradually and allowed several days to dry.
Work on the $163,000 overhaul began in May, but recent rain has prevented workers from getting the job done in time for the scheduled opening, Greenslade said.
When the pool will open is still weather-dependent, but Greenslade said he wants the work done "as soon as possible."
Visitors expecting a dip at Peerless may opt to visit the Victoria Pool, but it’s likely to be crowded.
The Victoria Pool can fit just 350 people, compared to the 2,864-person capacity at Peerless. In past summers, people have had to wait to enter the Victoria Pool because it was full.
"It will boost the demand, for sure," Greenslade said,
although he added that camps and other large groups
expecting to use the Peerless Pool have been redirected to other area swimming centers.
Crowded or not, Louise Goldstein, co-founder of the Save the Victoria Pool Society, said she’ll be among the first in line when her pool of choice opens at 10 a.m. Saturday.
"Unless there’s a hurricane, I’ll be there," she said.
Still, Goldstein said, she is disappointed that park staff are again opening the Victoria Pool in late June rather than on Memorial Day. She will continue to advocate for an earlier opening until the policy changes, she said.
"They’re acting like it’s their private property and not our tax dollars that pay for this pool," Goldstein said.
Greenslade said staff could open the 73-year-old pool earlier, but the early-season crowds are too small to justify it.
"We just don’t get the crowds and it’s not been worth it, in my experience," he said.
The June openings are now scheduled to coincide with the school calendar, Greenslade said.
The pools, which saw a combined 59,093 visitors last year, will be open — once they do open — seven days a week until Labor Day.
8 comments:
You're so pathetic, you'll look for any excuse to get your name in the newspaper. And how about the next time you come up with something new? You're a broken record.
Marian L.
For The Record: 99% of the time the Press calls us including yesterday. You might ask why?
Sure they do, and then they put a gun to your head and force you to say these ridiculous things. I wish I could be there on Monday when the first school bus pulls up in front of the complex. It will be wonderful having all those youngsters romping around your swimming hole. What was it that one person said...oh yes..."MARCO? POLO!" It's just a shame that no one will ever learn to crawl there again. But if the magic is there as you say, all will be healed.
Oh and by the way, you do realize that your posting on June 23rd about the pool history makes it sound like you are now saying that you are unhappy with the result of the repairs don't you?
Marian L.
It's a shame that only 350 youngsters will be able to romp at the pool. I guess you, or the powers that be at the park, don't care about the other 2000 or so youngsters and adults who will be on the outstide looking in on the Victoria Pool since the max. number it holds is 350. If you weren't so focused on being negative toward the Society, you would look toward the people who really don't care about the youngsters, or their parents or you! The park officials had to know at least 3 weeks ago the Peerless wasn't going to be ready. The temperatures were exceptionally high since Memorial day, espically on the weekends.
You would think if they cared about the public they are suposed to be working for the park officials would have opened the Victoria Pool to give the public 3 or 4 more weeks of the pool time. Especially, since they knew the season for the Peerless would be cut short. Why not open earlier, it only makes sense! I'll tell you why, they just don't care! So you can keep focusing on the Society while the real focus should be on the park management. The officials love people like you who take the spotlight off them, while they just sit there and smugly giving us more and more excuses.
Oh so now it is part of a plan...the managers of one of the most popular parks in the region have nothing better to do but sit around and see how they can torture people by keeping one pool closed and opening another one later. Has it occurred to any of you that there must be a good reason for all of this? I mean think about it logically...if I had a bunch of whining cry babies blogging the weather report each day I would open the place in a second...unless there was a good reason. I'm negative towards the society because it is a joke! They don't do anything but complain! There is not one piece of tangible evidence that they've ever done anything to assist the pool. If you don't find it strange that there is a "society" in exsistance just to complain about an opening date than I feel very sorry for you. The only thing that bothers you is that this administration and these managers don't crumble like putty in your hands like the old ones. At least when they make a decision they stick to them! They don't bend just to accomodate a few people. Wrong or right they stick to a decision and I admire that. Too many elected and appointed officials bend under foolish circumstances. I'll never agree with your cause but that's OK, I'm retired and I really don't have anything better to do. It's actually fun, you all get so fired up over such nonsense.
Marian L.
Marian wrote: "they must have a good reason for all of this" That's simply unreasoned defense of authority.
"Wrong or right, they stick to a decision. I admire that" That's just silly. Wrong, right...makes no difference to you as long as they dig in to show their authority and try to cover up their incompetence?
Marion L. said "Has it occurred to any of you that there must be a good reason for all of this? I mean think about it logically...if I had a bunch of whining cry babies blogging the weather report each day I would open the place in a second...unless there was a good reason"
You are absolutely right...Why would you try to open one pool early when you know the other pool which holds 2800 people will not be usuable. What a foolish illogical idea. What was I thinking. I'm sure no one will even miss the Peerless, or care.
They all have hoses and sprinklers in their yards. You're right again...now I see your point, how foolish do I feel!
Hmmm...it seems that anonymous has finally been unmasked...Marian L.?
Carol
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