Park and Pool Committee Close to Finalizing Renovation Plan

The borough's Memorial Park and Pool Committee is close to finalizing renovation plans intended enhance the Memorial Park pool experience.

With $480,000 in a fund set aside for such improvements, the committee must decide which features to improve upon and which are fine the way they are. Committee members said at a meeting Tuesday that as of now, it seems that the basketball court and baseball fields are up in the air but the kiddie pool and parking situation will both be dealt with.

"The plan right now is to relocate the kiddie pool," said Vice Chairman Jim LeMon. "Right now it sits below the main pool and it's difficult for parents to see the kiddie pool, so we'll raise it to the same elevation and hopefully provide a better kiddie pool experience.

"(The 25 extra parking spaces will extend) beyond the St. Paul's Church area. So if you look at the lot, we'll go north on the property line of the park and it would extend probably 45 to 60 feet."

The pool itself will not be enlarged and its equipment will not be renovated, but it will be resurfaced, re-tiled and painted. In addition, the pool area will receive a face lift. The committee has plans to add a snack bar, a fountain that sprays water up in the air and tables and beach chairs.

While it may seem like a novel idea to put work into something that residents of all ages can enjoy, not everyone is on board.

"The pool is fine the way it is," said Sally Armbruster, a Chatham resident since 1964. "I have no small children anymore, but I like the pool. I don't need a snack bar, I don't need all this fancy stuff. I go there, I cool off and when I get tired I go home."

The committee is hoping that these changes will help increase pool membership from the 136 in 2010 to 200 in 2011 and 275 in 2012. Membership declined in 2010 partly due to an increase in fees.

"I know at least four families that didn't renew their membership because they couldn't afford the $100 for all of their children due to the economy," said Armbruster.

With the cost of all the renovations, membership prices might see another increase. The committee has no plans to offer daily memberships. It might consider cutting back on the number of lifeguards it employs. The maintenance crew could take a hit, though nothing is set in stone yet.

The Borough Council has said it will make a decision on the matter by July 12.

"Our final presentation will come before that, probably on July 6," said LeMon.

Once the final decision is made, the new and improved pool should be open to the public by the start of next summer.

"Ideally we'd like to close the pool on Labor Day and start construction September 15/October 1 (2010)," said LeMon. "The other option is to wait until April, start the construction and finish it by Memorial Day, when the pool typically opens."