Decaying Mohawk pool headed for demolition
Story Created:
Jul 28, 2010 at 3:47 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 28, 2010 at 5:38 PM EST
MOHAWK, N.Y. (WKTV) - One Mohawk resident has seen her community pool go from overflowing with swimmers, to completely empty.
Now she's wondering if there will ever be a big splash coming from the community pool again.
Rita Arndt has lived next to the Memorial Swimming Pool at Fisher Elementary school in Mohawk for 25 years. She's seen her kids swim there, and even used the pool a time or two herself.
However, for the last two years, she's seen a lot of nothing coming from what used to be a hot spot across the way.
"I'm sure the children miss it," Arndt said. "I'm sorry to see it closed and I guess it probably never will be open again. It's a loss for the village."
There are more problems with the pool than meets the eye. Not only does the pool lack a single drop of water, but there is rust bleeding through the 55 year old pool liner.
Underneath, there are old pipes leaking, some of which carry chlorine water, raising environmental concerns.
The empty pool shell, alone, surrounded by a chain link fence is a safety concern, according to Mohawk Superintendent of Schools, Joyce Caputo.
"To replace a pool is $2.6 million dollars, and there are no grants available for a public pool on school district property," Caputo said.
The lack of grants are, in part, due to the fact that the pool is not used as a teaching facility. In the past, the village has done their best to help with costs to run the pool, but now the multi-million dollar price tag to bring the pool back to life is far too much.
Mohawk School Board President Lori Sementilli says the board's hands are tied, because they don't want to see taxpayers burdened with the big bill to save the pool during tough economic times.
Now, they're considering other options for re-claiming the space, like swings and picnic tables. They say that no matter what, they want to see the space stay a kid-friendly area.
The war memorial right outside the pool will be preserved, and officials say could be relocated to a spot near the school's flag pole.
As for the fate of the decaying pool, it looks like it's headed for demolition.
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