Rec. Department plans attempt to secure CPA funds for Pine Knoll pool

Aug. 27, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW —Recently hired Recreation Director Colin Drury is wasting no time in attempting to make a big splash for the community as he updated the Board of Selectmen on a proposal to utilize Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to replace the aging pool at the Pine Knoll Recreation Area.

Drury is pursuing a warrant article that will require a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to utilize funds now made available due to changes in the laws pertaining to the use of CPA monies.

Drury stressed that the renovation or replacement of the pool would have a large impact on the community.

"The opportunity for the pool to be redone would benefit the senior center, the Recreation Department and the DPW [Department of Public Works]," he said. "That pool has offered over 55 years of service to the town of East Longmeadow and since we've owned it, it has given us the ability to have a camp that this year alone had almost 1,500 participants in nine weeks. It's a huge resource and to lose that pool, we would lose the resource."

Drury explained that the pool is in such a state of disrepair that the DPW is needed constantly to keep it running.

"The DPW does so much work just to keep that pool running," he said, recounting one instance this year in which the pool experienced a "blow out" and starting losing water.

Drury added that the pool loses a significant amount of water every day due to the cracks it has developed over the years.

"What that water is doing is going into he ground water and what it's doing is actually causing the pool walls to be slowly pushed," he said.

Drury also cited a mandate that would require all public pools possess handicap lifts by 2013.

"With the size of our pool, we'd actually need two of them. [The installation of the lifts] would cause us to drill through the deck and actually put an anchor in," he said. "It's because of this that I think we might actually lose the pool."

Selectman James Driscoll said he supported Drury's efforts and suggested that he work with Town Accountant Thomas Caliento on the proposal he would bring before the CPC.

"I can't think of a greater resource than Pine Knoll and East Longmeadow has a great and rich swimming history," Driscoll said.

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