CASCADE PARK Officials work on plan to reopen pool

A volunteer committee will help to create a master site plan for the park.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- It's been several years since anyone has splashed around in the city pool in Cascade Park.
Now Mayor Wayne Alexander and Bill Lutz, executive director of the New Castle Community Y, are working on a plan to open that pool again.
Both say it likely won't be ready until next summer, but they intend to start working on fixing its problems now.
Alexander said his best estimate is that the pool has been closed since 1998. He was told it would take close to $1 million to fix a crack in the liner.
But Alexander believes with the help of the Y and city workers, it will cost far less and the pool can be reopened by summer 2005.
Lutz said he fell in love with Cascade Park shortly after arriving in New Castle in March from Franklin, Pa.
"I'm just amazed at the beauty of that park. My thought is what can we do to get the park back so the entire community can enjoy it," Lutz said.
In addition to the pool, Lutz said there are gardens and other spots that can be renovated. He approached Alexander after spending time in Cascade Park.
Volunteers
The two took a tour of the pool and park two weeks ago and talked about forming a volunteer committee to work on park renovations.
Lutz said he sees a master site plan being created first and then work starting.
The mayor said he would like to see the pool reopened for the city's youths. It would be run by the Y, just as it had been before its closing, he said.
The city last had a contract with the Y to operate the pool from 1995 to 1999. Alexander believes the last year of the contract wasn't utilized because pool repairs were too costly.
Under that agreement, the city was responsible for maintenance and equipment, and the Y hired, trained and maintained the staff and daily operations.
The Y returned 10 percent of membership, guest pass and commission revenues to the city at the end of each season.
Cutting costs
Lutz said new methods developed over the past several years could bring down the cost of repairing the pool.
And Alexander said public works employees can help with some of the repairs in late fall and early spring.
The two are also looking for volunteers to serve on the committee that will be working on the master site plan and renovations.
Alexander said this is only the beginning.
"We want to, each year, do more and more with the park. I think the citizens and children deserve it," Alexander said.