With just months to go before its scheduled opening date, the Holiday House pool may be forced to suspend its 2024 swim season, said members of the West Rockhill-Sellersville Joint Recreation Authority (JRA) at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 23.
"The JRA will have to make our decision as to whether or not we feel we have the wherewithal to get through another season based on the expenses we’re anticipating and the hoped-for revenue,” said JRA chairman Don Crouthamel before a standing-room only crowd of nearly one hundred residents in Sellersville Borough Hall.
Those attending repeatedly implored the board to open the pool, casting it as the area’s lone asset and a vital amenity for children.
The Jan. 23 meeting came on the heels of a recent decision by the West Rockhill Board of Supervisors to withhold the pool’s budgeted $13,000 appropriation for outreach efforts. The pool, first opened in 1970, has faced mounting criticism from West Rockhill supervisors regarding its long-term viability and financial burden on the township. In recent years, the township has repeatedly pumped more money into the pool to keep it afloat amidst aging infrastructure and dwindling memberships, supervisors have said.
After budgeting $13,000 for the pool, far short of the $50,000 initially requested by the JRA, West Rockhill made further support contingent on a marketing study. The supervisors have additionally refused to begin the process of filling two vacancies on the JRA despite having at least one available candidate, according to discussion at a recent West Rockhill meeting.
In light of the opposition from West Rockhill, the JRA scheduled the special meeting Tuesday to discuss the pool’s prospects for the upcoming swim season.
"The pool has been a part of our community for a long time. It’s a valuable resource for our community. It helps property values,” said a Sellersville man. "If you do a Google search on recreational activities in Sellersville and West Rockhill, the first thing that comes up is Holiday House pool, and after that, it’s very limited. When there’s activities for people to do. It’s a benefit for the entire community.”
"To take this away from the families now I think would be a terrible mistake. There’s really not much else for kids to do around here,” said a West Rockhill man. "Don’t just consider the dollars; consider the impact it would have on the community.”
"When I was a single mom, I was operating on a low budget, and I could not afford to send my kids to camp. I had to find something for my kids to do for the summer and the pool was a lifesaver for me,” said a Quakertown woman. "It was the only affordable thing I could do for my kids.”
"This pool is the only thing this community has in the summer time besides the disc golf course,” said a Sellersville woman. "Where are these kids gonna learn how to swim?”
"I need a safe place where my kids can go in the summer. Menlo is too crowded, I can’t safely watch them at the same time,” said an East Rockhill woman. "I also see senior citizens gathering there. We need to be able to foster that sense of community here.”
Following the residents’ comments, Crouthamel clarified that both the JRA and Sellersville Borough have made every effort to open the pool but have been stymied by the West Rockhill Board of Supervisors.
"We all agree with you,” said Crouthamel. "We all see the value in Holiday House pool.”
However, Crouthamel painted a very bleak financial outlook for Holiday House. Following years of inadequate maintenance and investment, Crouthamel said, the pool is in need of extensive capital improvements, including sealing of cracks and seams, repainting, recaulking, new skimmers and a new pump. He said the cost estimates range from $130,000 to $500,000.
"With one of the partners not willing to give us $13,000, that’s when we said, ‘Wow. Can we do this?’” said Crouthamel. "If we say we’re gonna do it, we have to do it. We can’t hire lifeguards, managers, snack stand employees, go out and sell 400 membership tickets and then in April say, ‘Folks, I’m sorry. It’s just not coming together’.”
Crouthamel cited the other main obstacle as a dearth of volunteers, specifically in the areas of fundraising, membership drives, facility management and grant writing. He took the opportunity to encourage residents in attendance to get involved.
"If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer, now until May is our busiest time of year,” said Crouthamel.
On a more optimistic note, Crouthamel revealed that he received a significantly lower cost estimate for the capital improvements the morning of the meeting. He added that the JRA is actively pursuing alternative sources of revenue, including fundraisers, Dine and Donate nights at area eateries and corporate sponsorships. He also touted some marketing efforts to attract new members, noting that many residents have never even heard of the pool.
However, Sellersville Borough Manager Eileen Bradley warned that the pool cannot risk going over budget without the financial support of West Rockhill.
‘If anything goes over budget with regard to these capital expenses, if something unforeseen happens, then it’s going to be a disaster and it’s going to crumble,” said Bradley. "It’s not that we don’t support the pool. It’s my job to give you the ugly news.”
JRA vice chairman Hal Schirmer, a West Rockhill supervisor, agreed to propose a special meeting of the West Rockhill Board of Supervisors ahead of the next full board meeting to again request the dispersal of the pool’s budgeted $13,000 appropriation.
"One of the points that I’ve made over and over is that the parks don’t pay their way, but the JRA has been spinning straw into gold. We get $13,000 from the township, and we end up getting 260K seed money. We’re getting a 90% return on investment,” said Schirmer. "Once we get that initial prime pump, then we start getting people, donations, memberships. But at this point, we still need that initial batch of funding.”
While the JRA ultimately did not announce a final decision on the pool’s opening, members said residents will be notified of the decision "very quickly.” The authority closed by approving a resolution urging West Rockhill to cease its delay in filling the vacancies on the JRA.
"Thank you to everyone for coming out” said Crouthamel. "We don’t want this to be the last time we see you though.”
JT Bankers will hold a Dine and Donate night for the Holiday House pool on February 20 from 5 to 9 p.m.
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