Village Officials, Swim Advocates Bid Current P’ville Pool Farewell
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Last week as children were splashing around in the Pleasantville pool in the background, a small group of people held up their wine glasses to toast the end of an era.
Now that Labor Day has come and gone, the old pool will be dismantled and construction will begin on the new pool that is slated to open next Memorial Day.
Pleasantville Pool Task Force co-chairs Jim Kennedy and Troy Tassier arranged the symbolic toast and were joined by Mayor Peter Scherer and village Trustee Nicole Asquith, other task force members, pool staff, swim team parents and children.
“This pool is a lot more than just a pool,” Kennedy told the group. “It’s an important place for all of us.”
The project became contentious when it was learned that homeowners’ taxes would go up about $170 a year until the 20-year bond is paid off, which will finance the $6 million project. The last few years the village grappled with repeated damage to the pool building, pool liner, pumps, piping, filtration and electrical system, and was convinced to pursue a newly-constructed pool with a strong infrastructure that could prevent the Lake Street facility from being inundated with water when there is heavy rain.
The village held a special meeting to discuss the project on Aug. 1, which drew more than 50 residents, most of whom supported construction of a new pool.
“The village has stepped up and we have all made history,” Kennedy said as he thanked Scherer and Asquith.
Scherer recognized Tassier and Kennedy for their years of work promoting a new pool, starting with a community-wide survey four years ago that was executed by task force member Jill Jameson. Results of the survey revealed overwhelming support for a new pool in the community.
“There is so much life here in the pool and it’s how we keep Pleasantville the same in a world that’s constantly changing,” Scherer said. “There’s something that happens here for kids, families, swim teams, and no one doubts that we are doing the right thing.”
Asquith recalled when she first moved to the village, she found the pool a great place to meet people and where her children were welcome.
“There’s continuity at this pool,” she said. “The pool task force is a model for the community.”
The gathering included task force members Suzanne Largey, Tim Rossi and Petro Zorgman. Also raising their glasses were swim team coaches including pool director Phillip Dearstyne.
Large photographs were exhibited that traced the pool’s history from the original 1930 swimming hole to the opening of the current location in 1939. A rendering of the proposed refurbished facility was also displayed.
Kennedy said he’s eagerly looking forward to Memorial Day next year.
“The first day the new pool opens, everyone’s jaws are going to drop,” he said.
Abby is a local journalist who has reported on breaking news for more than 20 years. She currently covers community issues in The Examiner as a full-time reporter and has written for the paper since its inception in 2007. Read more from Abby’s editor-author bio here. Read Abbys’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/ab-lub2019/