This past Wednesday, I decided to attend the Pool Bubble Study Committee just to see what options they want to put on the table to eventually present to the public. The Bubble Study Committee (I don’t know if that is the proper title of this committee, but whatever), consists of Councilman Matt Altieri, Councilwoman Laura DiCaprio and Councilman Jim Sima. I don’t bother putting what party they represent because really, why should it matter–it shouldn’t.

As most of you that live in Cheshire know, the Community Pool, which opened in 2002, has really become a drain (no pun intended) on this town financially, basically because of rising natural gas prices and all around energy prices to boot.

It is so odd regarding natural gas, because I have heard that the United States has at least a 200 year supply of it, but because the rest of the country, not counting the Northeast, uses natural gas, demand is high and so is the price.

We all know energy prices are out of control, and are expected to skyrocket over the next few years. So something has to be done regarding the Community Pool and that inflatable bubble which is wearing out its energy welcome at a fast pace.

It seems what was such a “good” idea in 2002, has come back to haunt Cheshire. The Town spends well over half a million dollars to prop up this pool. We all know what SHOULD have been done. But that is proverbial water under the bridge now.

The Community Pool, should have been built AT THE HIGH SCHOOL in the first place. It probably would have cost next to nothing because the town could have gotten funding from the state. I have heard, and have mentioned this in previous posts, that there is an “ear” (connection) outside of the auditorium. Well, if there is already a built in connection, the pool should be built at the high school. I know this is one option that has been discussed. Albeit, it would have to be a pool on a much smaller scale than the Olympic size Community pool, because of energy costs, but, it is an option. Then, the Community Pool could remain a seasonal pool.

I hate to keep saying it, but I think Cheshire learned its lesson from this Community Pool fiasco. If any of you remember my old Undergroundtownhall TV shows on Cox Cable from a few years ago, then you remember my show “Dangerous Intersections–And the Pool.” It was sort of two shows in one. When I got to the pool, I remember saying that the town should take the word “Community” off the sign because it is not a Community Pool anymore. And it isn’t. Bottom line–the community really does not support this pool.

This was and I know some of you are going to get upset, but too bad, this pool was a SHOW OFF endeavor. The powers that be SHOVED IT DOWN THE TAXPAYERS THROAT, and arrogantly thought that the community would totally support it. Well, it BACKFIRED. The community did not support it.

First of all, as I have said before-you can have a polycarbonate glass enclosure that opens on four sides as the Milford/Orange YMCA does (they had the bubble also); you could build a permanent structure or a Natatorium, as is being discussed by the Pool Study Committee, but the BOTTOM LINE–IF YOU DON’T MARKET THIS POOL (like with a SIGN on Rt 10) and you have this “you can come, but YOU can’t, pick and choose who can use this facility attitude, then I don’t care what type of structure you put up, it could be the most energy efficient thing on the planet–it will FAIL!!!

Most businesses, as I have stated time and time again, have a SIGN. Can you imagine Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Stop and Shop or any retail establishment that tried to run a successful business without signage? NO!! NO YOU CAN’T. In fact, that is the FIRST item that is put up right before a business opens–the SIGN!!

And, could you imagine if any giant retailer had the attitude “oh you can come, but like, we really don’t want YOU to frequent our business. You can come to our business and purchase items, but if you are from out of town, the prices will be higher!! How long to do you think Walmart or J.C Penney or Shaws or Stop and Shop or any business that caters to the public would last if they adopted that attitude? NOT LONG!!

And this nickel and diming, CUT IT OUT!! Charge ONE fee for everyone to use the pool. The YMCA In Southington does. When I went to Bally,s they let you come ONCE for free or for a week trial period, then if you wanted to continue, you had to sign a CONTRACT for at least a YEAR!!. No $6 a day, $6 a day, NO, this is a waste and is not economically viable. Make people sign a contract, pay monthly, and then hope they don’t show up half the time. You get your money whether they come or not. That is the way Ballys Fitness does it and they have been around over 30 years. RUN THE POOL LIKE A BUSINESS!!

Now I am sure many of you are wondering what a “Natatorium” is. Well, it is a permanent structure. We have one at K-State and I swam at it all the time!! Here is the definition:

A natatorium is, strictly speaking, a structurally separate building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building; thus, the sense was much as now although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building (e.g. a pool in a school or a fitness club).[1] It is usually taken for granted that it will also house locker rooms, and perhaps capacity for allied activities, such as a diving tank, facilities for water polo, and so forth. Many colleges and universities have natatoria.

The Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium in Honolulu, Hawaii is believed to be the largest salt-water natatorium in the world. Although the pool was closed in 1980 due to health concerns, the structure remains an interesting feature on the eastern end of Waikiki in the shadow of Diamond Head. The natatorium was included in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2007 list of most endangered historic sites in the U.S.

A Natatorium is usually a big building. The K-State facility is huge. I have a photo of the outside. But at K-State, even today, energy costs are not a problem. Why? Because K-State has its own NUCLEAR REACTOR–Ward Hall. Now, I am not suggesting Cheshire build a nuclear reactor, but hmm, maybe we should!!

Click here to view Kansas State University’s Natatorium

I found a photo of a recently built Natatorium in Michigan. The facility was built in 2003 at a cost of $11 million!! Follow Milford’s lead, spend a few million and put up the Openair Polycarbonate Glass enclosure that opens on four sides. Even if there is some “condensation” on the glass, it is much cheaper than a Natatorium.

Click here for photo of the Michigan Natatorium

Here again is the link to Openaire which built the Milford/Orange YMCA structure a few years ago.

Click here