Chris 3,211 Posted July 14 Doze it, sprinkle grass seed and walk away. It's that simple. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 553 Posted July 14 2 hours ago, Chris said: Doze it, sprinkle grass seed and walk away. It's that simple. And a helluva lot cheaper!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 456 Posted July 14 10 hours ago, Pvt Snowball said: The pool should have been taken down a long time ago it's a public health hazard because it sits across the way from the school second of all they had more than enough time to tear the pool down rebuild the pool or repurpose that Park and they've waited a long time to do anything about it and it still won't do anything about it but we're going to put a splash pad in there make it makes sense y'all Since it was built with a Govt grant they have to get final approval from the state before they can tear it down! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Twin Tiers Living 489 Posted July 24 Quote Jim Hassell, who helped form the Committee to Save Brand Park Pool, wants Elmira to restore the pool for the community. “We have very little for our older-young people, teenagers and young adults, to do here,” said Hassel. “We have almost no basketball courts or anything, and this is what they want. This is what they need. The nice thing about a pool is that it serves everybody.“ The city missed the deadline to submit an application for the first round of a state capital grant program called NY SWIMS. The program offers grants of up to $10 million for municipal swimming facility projects in underserved communities.' Elmira City Councilmember Gary Brinn is in favor of having a pool, but not the current structure, due to its irreparable condition and the costs to preserve it, plus any maintenance fees. “I am happy to work with anyone about the things they are passionate about. But the money just isn't there for the city even to maintain it after a grant [would] run out,” said Brinn. “So we just need more information. We need less antagonism and more cooperation and partnership on all sides in this conversation.“ The fate of the structure is not clear. Earlier this year, Elmira Mayor Daniel Mandell said the city agreed to demolish the pool a couple of years ago. However, it has to wait for an independent engineering study and then approval for demolition from the state Historic Preservation Office. Source Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zapp Brannigan 223 Posted July 24 They were talking about this on WSKG radio channel this morning. I came in at the tail end.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,211 Posted July 24 4 minutes ago, Zapp Brannigan said: They were talking about this on WSKG radio channel this morning. I came in at the tail end.. This article is pretty much what was on the radio. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenK 503 Posted July 25 I thought this subject was a done deal. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elizabeth Whitehouse 22 Posted July 27 Kevin. "Working splash pads are great", but not nearly as great as a pool. Yeah, splash pads allow one to cool down, but they do not create a community. Brand Park is dismal, and a splash pad would not be an improvement. With the current climate, a pool could be used for at least five months. Life guards do not have to be college students. Quite a few of the older generation can swim, and would be happy to take CPR certification and VOLUNTEER at the pool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 456 Posted July 29 On 7/26/2024 at 9:37 PM, Elizabeth Whitehouse said: Kevin. "Working splash pads are great", but not nearly as great as a pool. Yeah, splash pads allow one to cool down, but they do not create a community. Brand Park is dismal, and a splash pad would not be an improvement. With the current climate, a pool could be used for at least five months. Life guards do not have to be college students. Quite a few of the older generation can swim, and would be happy to take CPR certification and VOLUNTEER at the pool. CPR certification is just 1 part of being a certified lifeguard. Harris Hill and West Elmira are having issues finding certified lifeguards. It's actually a nationwide issue. They need to be able to know the difference between actual drowning which is quiet and oftentimes hard to see and a kid playing around. The insurance cost for a community pool using volunteers to watch swimmers versus certified lifeguards would be astronomical if they could even find coverage. I have fond memories of going to Brand Park and swimming as a child, but I wish they would hurry up and tear it down so I don't have to hear about it anymore. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elizabeth Whitehouse 22 Posted July 29 What else do you need to be a lifeguard? Is it an occupation that is confined to the under 25s? Why do you NEED insurance? Apart from the fact that insurance companies tell you you do? How many drowning deaths have there been in public pools (I don't know for sure but far less than in private pools)? https://www.npr.org/2024/05/22/1252976430/drowning-deaths-rising-swimming-pools Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin 456 Posted July 29 7 hours ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said: What else do you need to be a lifeguard? Is it an occupation that is confined to the under 25s? Why do you NEED insurance? Apart from the fact that insurance companies tell you you do? How many drowning deaths have there been in public pools (I don't know for sure but far less than in private pools)? https://www.npr.org/2024/05/22/1252976430/drowning-deaths-rising-swimming-pools I don't know, I'm not or have ever been a life guard. I am sure Google can answer the question for you. Because we have become a litigious society. Why do think that is? Maybe because of certified lifeguards? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elizabeth Whitehouse 22 Posted July 29 Minimum age is 15. I can see no upper age limit. We have been a litigious society for a long time. Lawyers and insurance companies have done a lot to promote frivolous lawsuits. Such as the story I heard shortly after arriving in this area in the mid-eighties about a Horseheads couple who sued their baby-sitter for starting a kitchen blaze when she turned on the oven to bake cookies and the CARDBOARD BOXES that were stored in the oven caught fire. Having lifeguards undoubtedly greatly lowers the risk of drowning. But so does learning to swim. For that you need a pool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MsKreed 1,571 Posted July 29 2 hours ago, Kevin said: I don't know, I'm not or have ever been a life guard. I am sure Google can answer the question for you. Because we have become a litigious society. Why do think that is? Maybe because of certified lifeguards? Correct on both counts.....Google does have lots of answers and people are indeed litigious. Just the first handful dated within the last year or so of substantial lawsuits and settlements for drowning/incidents in municipal pools..... the City of Charlotte NC, the City of Nappanee, IN, St. Louis County, MO, The Village of Tinley Park, IL, City of Miami Beach, FL, As for "needing" insurance.....I'm not sure what the state laws are concerning "self-funding" vs insurance requirement for a municipality's liability. But as adults making responsible decisions, insurance is a sensible option whenever extremely high liabilities costs exist. I have voluntarily carried insurance for things that I simply can't afford to pay out of pocket and/or wouldn't want to "budget" for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
command_prompt 298 Posted July 29 Not to change the topic, but... changing the topic nonetheless. I wonder how long, if ever, it's going to take our community to, er, "recover" from the "loss" of the pool after it's finally demolished. Months? Years? Decades? Right now, it stands out like a turd in a fruit bowl, continuing to attract attention. Why do Elmira denizens (and, even more bizarrely, people who have moved out of the area long time ago) insist on beating this dead horse? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,211 Posted July 29 36 minutes ago, command_prompt said: Not to change the topic, but... changing the topic nonetheless. I wonder how long, if ever, it's going to take our community to, er, "recover" from the "loss" of the pool after it's finally demolished. Months? Years? Decades? Right now, it stands out like a turd in a fruit bowl, continuing to attract attention. What I've observed since starting this website is that it gets a person or groups' attention and they try for a while. Then they either realize the futility of the endeavor or they lose interest. We're on the thrid or fourth cycle of that now if I'm counting correctly. Truth is, I don't think most people give a damn or even think about it until they have it brought to their attention once again. Many others realize the pool is too far gone and it would be way too much money to fix it, let alone maintain it for 3 months out of the year. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
command_prompt 298 Posted July 29 1 minute ago, Chris said: We're on the thrid or fourth cycle of that now if I'm counting correctly. Truth is, I don't think most people give a damn or even think about it until they have it brought to their attention once again. Many others realize the pool is too far gone and it would be way too much money to fix it, let alone maintain it for 3 months out of the year. What restarts those cycles? Elections? Politicians who, in order to gain more popularity, promise their constituents things that cannot be done... only to get more votes? How honest is that? Appeal to emotion is a well-known logical fallacy, used mostly in discussions, but it's easy to say how it can be applied here. Emotion, in this case, would be the feeling of nostalgia, yearning for "good ole days." 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 3,211 Posted July 29 7 minutes ago, command_prompt said: What restarts those cycles? Elections? Politicians who, in order to gain more popularity, promise their constituents things that cannot be done... only to get more votes? How honest is that? That's a good question. I have a feeling that for at least two of those "cycles" it was someone who suddenly realized it existed and thinking no one else has noticed it before. Not that the idea isn't in good faith mind you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 553 Posted July 29 1 hour ago, command_prompt said: Right now, it stands out like a turd in a fruit bowl, continuing to attract attention. Turd in a fruit bowl … Love it 😆. And so , so spot on !! And again 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
command_prompt 298 Posted July 29 8 minutes ago, Hal said: Turd in a fruit bowl … Love it 😆. And so , so spot on !! "Stick out like a sore thumb" is such a cliché; I needed something more... profound. 😉 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zapp Brannigan 223 Posted July 29 Forget a splash pad it should be set up as a safe space for drug users to get fresh needles and have a safe place to use I hear Ithaca has these places maybe we should to. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenK 503 Posted July 29 2 hours ago, command_prompt said: Not to change the topic, but... changing the topic nonetheless. I wonder how long, if ever, it's going to take our community to, er, "recover" from the "loss" of the pool after it's finally demolished. Months? Years? Decades? Right now, it stands out like a turd in a fruit bowl, continuing to attract attention. Why do Elmira denizens (and, even more bizarrely, people who have moved out of the area long time ago) insist on beating this dead horse? It's mind boggling really 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hal 553 Posted July 29 4 hours ago, KarenK said: It's mind boggling really It is truly bizarre… but then again the City and a whole lot of folks have not moved beyond Agnes yet and at this rate i’ll be worm shit before there is any forward movement towards the future for the area . 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam 527 Posted July 30 13 hours ago, Elizabeth Whitehouse said: Having lifeguards undoubtedly greatly lowers the risk of drowning. But so does learning to swim. For that you need a pool. wonderful things, splash-pads.... no pool involved, so improbability of drowning no lifeguards needed. Kids still cool off ( less energy involved in maintaining splash pad so win for climate), kids can play together, money saved AND no more unsightly remnants of a pool Winning all around 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elizabeth Whitehouse 22 Posted July 30 Have you seen the remnants of the splash pad in Brand Park? And others. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
