Sisters Katie, left, and Grace Quinn of Lansdale emerge from water slides into a splashdown into the Fourth Street pool on Tuesday, July 13 2021 Photo by Dan Sokil | The Reporter.
Pool season has arrived, and so have questions about how Lansdale can make better use of the borough’s two pool complexes at Fourth Street and Whites Road parks.
“It’s great to hear that membership is up, but there’s not as many people at the pool as in years prior,” said councilman BJ Breish.
“Even when we were at the pool during the 4th of July weekend, there really wasn’t a whole lot of people there. I was really surprised, especially because of the heat. So I’m wondering if we can get more folks using the pool system,” he said.
Lansdale’s pools were the subject of a deep dive in May from an outside consultant, who detailed for council the results of a study examining the short- and long-term equipment needs, aging infrastructure, and possible options for reconfiguring and revamping the borough’s complexes at Fourth Street and Whites Road parks.
In that presentation, the consultant identified price tags in the millions for fixes and upgrades to each of the two parks, and Mayor Garry Herbert subsequently advocated in his Mayoral Musings column that council consider funding the major upgrades, likely by a long-term bond borrowing.
During the July 17 council meeting, parks and recreation director Courtney Fox gave an update on the summer season so far, with largely good news.
“We are in the busiest time of the year, with camps, programs and of course the pools. I’m excited to report that we are up over 500 pool members this year, with a total of over 2,700 members,” said Fox.
Sisters Maura, in water, Grace, jumping, and Katie Quinn of Lansdale are seen at various stages of jumping into the Fourth Street pool on Tuesday, July 13 2021Staff have received four proposals from firms interested in developing a new comprehensive parks and open space plan for the borough, updating a document that dates back to the early 1970s, and Fox said she hopes to have a recommendation ready for the parks committee to consider in August.
One other new topic is also being discussed by parks staff: whether heat waves could prompt certain events like outdoor concerts to be postponed or rescheduled.
“In addition to worrying about rain, we’re also now concerned with high temperatures during our events. So we are going to begin establishing a weather policy for these events, to ensure everyone’s safety,” she said.
Breish said he and his family have spent time at both pools this summer, and staff have “just been incredible,” even during an evacuation caused by lightning, but he’s heard comments from fellow swimmers worth passing on.
“When you’re at the pool a lot, you hear a lot of different conversations, and I heard some comments from folks that utilize the day pass program,” Breish said.
Those complaints centered around the costs of those passes: roughly $20 per person, so he heard a complaint about a $40 charge for one parent and child seeking to use one pool, on one day, “which seems like a lot,” and asked if the parks and rec committee can discuss lowering those rates to encourage more users, and raise more revenue.
“Perhaps if we lower the day pass cost, more people will utilize the pool system, and we’d actually generate more revenue, and get people more access to those fun activities,” he said.
Fox answered that the $20 day pass cost is for nonresidents ages six and over, and residents can secure a lower price of $14 by buying passes at the parks and recreation office on Seventh Street; those day passes are half-price after 5 p.m., and starting Aug. 12 the half-price discount begins at 4 p.m. Those rates remain the same as in 2023, Fox said, and talks on those rates can be held as the parks department discusses its 2025 budget this fall, she said.
Aurora Ortiz of Lansdale is handed a basketball by lifeguard Adam Makaron at Whites Road Pool on Tuesday, Aug. 9 2022.Pool users also asked about the trees at Fourth Street pool, Breish said, where one large tree was removed, and smaller ones have been added but may not have survived the summer heat. Fox said the department already had plans to add more umbrellas at Fourth Street in mid-July, and work constantly with public works staff to maintain and try to revive those already installed that survive, and replace those that don’t.
“The heat is just really bad right now. They planted, and it was kind of nice and pleasant, but then the heat came in pretty hot,” she said. “They’re all assets, and we want to make sure we’re taking care of them.”
Other upcoming events at the two pools include a “Dive-in Movie” showing of The Little Mermaid at Fourth Street at 8 p.m. on Aug. 9; Twin Day on Aug. 11; and a Puppy Plunge for dogs at Fourth Street Pool starting at 5 p.m. on Aug. 23, when donations will be accepted for Home at Last Dog Rescue; for more information follow “Lansdale Parks and Recreation ” on Facebook.
Council’s parks and recreation committee next meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and full council next meets at 8:30 p.m. that night, both at the borough municipal building, 1 Vine Street. For more information visit www.Lansdale.org.
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