Parks and Recreation Director Lucy Robinson has announced the elimination of several regular activities at the swimming pool, starting this month, to manage spending under a cut in the borough contribution for the department.
In an email to the community on June 27, Robinson said the cutbacks at the pool will reduce spending on part-time employees.
The cancellations include the open swim on Monday afternoons and all swim activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays, including lap/family swims and club/camp swims.
“Please note that we have eliminated the aquatics activities that presented with the lowest attendance,” she added.
Robinson said afternoon and evening lap swims are currently not available anyway, as they “are historically not well attended during the summer.”
“This schedule is for July. As we move forward, and the seasons change, we will bend and flex as needed,” the director said in her email to the community.
“We’re hoping that we can fire back in the fall,” Robinson said June 28.
Swim lessons will continue weekdays, as well as access to the facility for strength training, cardio and locker rooms.
The facility’s hours of operation Monday through Friday have also been adjusted to open 30 minutes earlier and close 30 minutes earlier: Open 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. instead of 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. “Attendance/demand is higher during the morning hours throughout the summer season,” Robinson said. Saturday hours remain unchanged, at 7 a.m. to noon.
Recreation Coordinator Devyn Johnson said the new hours do not apply to the community center (old gym), which is open only for reservations, scheduled activities and events. “We currently do not have regular hours over there,” she said.
Robinson reported last month that borough budget cuts would affect programs and services. The assembly-approved budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 cut $86,000 from last year’s $640,000 borough contribution to Parks and Recreation programs and building operations.
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