Saxon Woods Pool Tuesday.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. August 21, 2012 UPDATED AUGUST 22 3:30 P.M.E.D.T. UPDATED AUGUST 23, 2012:
Thursday morning, Donna Greene, Deputy Communications Director for the Westchester County Department of Communications said the moving back of pool openings around the county to 12 noon did save the county some money, issuing this statement:
"It is approximately a $25,000 savings system-wide from 8/22 to Labor Day .
"At all our pools, as of Aug. 18, opening is at noon Monday through Thursday (for those pools open on Monday). This is at least the 3rd year in a row that this has been the case. Our signs and web site should have been up to date with this information, but, our mistake, they were not."
Greene added the website has been updated as of Wednesday.
Residents around the county can check all the county pool opening and hours at http://parks.westchestergov.com/activities/swimming
This of course, is no solace to those heading for the pools and having to wait 45 minutes to an hour to get in as they did Tuesday.
While this reporter was taking his daily walk at the County-run Saxon Woods Pool parking lot Tuesday morning, I noticed a growing line by 11:30 A.M., with mothers, fathers tots, toddlers, and teens waiting to get in as morning coolness turned into high noon swelter.
Since the pool usually opened at 11 A.M. all week long all summer, I wondered if something was wrong with the pool.
A knowledgeable source at the pool told me that on Monday the pool opening hour changed to 12 noon, to save money in salaries and personnel by opening an hour earlier. I checked what the admission signs said – and there was no correcting notice saying anything like “New Opening Time Beginning August 20, 12 noon,” There was no sign at the entrance of the park prominently announcing the new, later opening.
Then of course,when the admissions office opened at noon, there was still a long line (about 75) waiting to get into the pool when I left the parking lot at 12:30 P.M.
I checked with the Westchester County Department of Communications to see why the opening time was moved up, and whether all county pools were opening an hour later.
The spokesperson checked the county website and found it was still listing all county pools as opening at 11 A.M.
No news release was sent out by the Department of Recreation and Parks announcing the change to this reporter's knowledge. WPCNR did not get one.
A source at Tibbets Brook Park Pool in Yonkers, told WPCNR their opening hour had moved up to 12 noon as of Monday, too. I asked why, and the source said, "county research has showed the 11 AM to 12 Noon hour was "slow, and it didn't pay to be open at 11 A.M."
Donna Greene, spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Communications explained Wednesday,
"At all our pools, as of Aug. 18, opening is at noon Monday through Thursday (for those pools open on Monday). This is at least the 3rd year in a row that this has been the case. Our signs and web site should have been up to date with this information, but, our mistake, they were not."
Saxon Woods Pool Tuesday.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. August 21, 2012 UPDATED AUGUST 22 3:30 P.M.E.D.T. UPDATED AUGUST 23, 2012:
Thursday morning, Donna Greene, Deputy Communications Director for the Westchester County Department of Communications said the moving back of pool openings around the county to 12 noon did save the county some money, issuing this statement:
"It is approximately a $25,000 savings system-wide from 8/22 to Labor Day .
