Wade pool at Dwyer Memorial Park in Cortland County. (Photo via Google Maps).
Linda Jones, like many individuals in and out of Cortland County, have a love for the wade pool at Dwyer Memorial Park.
“There’s so much good about that pool,” Jones said. “It’s part of a very historical part of the park and one of the few wade pools left in the area.”
Cortland County’s wade pool, however, could be part of a tough decision down the road. The pool, part of the county since the midway point of the 1900s, is currently facing a couple of issues.
The wade pool will be open this summer, but faces the potential lack of attendants and an ongoing leak.
“The pool needs major repairs,” County Highway Superintendent Charles Sudbrink said.
Sudbrink noted the leak in the wade pool is “getting worse,” adding that it causes the pool to lose 1.5-to-2 inches of water a day. Sudbrink declined to comment on the potential cost of the repairs, but noted the county is considering two companies to fix the leak.
The shortage of attendants for the wade pool has been an issue for the county for a few years, Sudbrink said.
“We have a hard time finding wade pool attendants every year,” he added. “We’ve exhausted all of our avenues in trying to hire attendants.”
The wade pool is typically open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week. Last summer, Sudbrink added, the pool was only open 3-to-4 days per week due to only one attendant on staff.
Attendants of the wade pool must be 18 years-or-older, based on New York State regulations. If there is a lifeguard-certified individual present, the attendant can be under 18 years of age. Jones, however, noted the wade pool isn’t big enough to be a regular-sized pool.
“If we could hire 16 and 17 year-olds, there wouldn’t be a problem (with wade pool). I know that for a fact because a lot of them ask if they could work even though it’s posted at 18,” Jones said. “No matter what we do we don’t seem to be able to get applications for (individuals) 18 and over. When we do get them quite often they’re college kids coming back. They leave before the season is even over. They miss Labor Day weekend.”
Jones, a county legislator in the ninth district that represents the northern portion of the village and town of Homer, has also pitched the idea of hiring a few adult part-timers with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
The wade pool season this summer is a test run for the county. If the attendant and leak issues cannot be resolved, Sudbrink noted the county will look into replacing the wade pool with a splash pad.
“That is one possibility,” Subdrink said, noting the wade pool used to be a fountain. “The splash pad would go where the pool is now.”
The estimated cost for a splash pad is over $212,000, Sudbrink said. He added that the county is looking into other estimates as well.
Jones mentioned that she is “very much against” the idea of replacing the wade pool with a splash pad.
“I hope that doesn’t happen and I understand the problems. But I don’t find (splash pads) safe. Even if there’s no attendee, people are still running and sliding,” Jones said.
Jones thinks wade pools are more sanitary than splash pads, adding that the wade pool is chlorinated and tested every day.
“(The Wade Pool) is good for the county,” Jones said. “If the wade pool is replaced, it’d be a great loss for the community.”
Whether the county decides to get the leak in the wade pool fixed, or the decision is made to replace it with a splash pad, Sudbrink said either would take place this fall or next spring.
“I’m just looking to come up with a solution to have something in the park for the residents to enjoy,” he added.
Further details on wade pool and when it will be open for the summer season have yet to be determined.
