Should The DCR Close Public Pools In Mid August?

The Department of Conservation and Recreation has closed public pools in cities of Lowell, Brocton, Springfeild, Allston-Brighton, Worchester, Everett, Cambridge, Somerville, Lawrence, and more. The kids and working families that live in these cities have no way to get to lakes and ocean beaches.

This comes in the midst of a heat wave. It was 94 yesterday and 95 today, with high humidity making folks feel miserable and Cities declaring a heat emergency, opening "cooling centers."

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20090819kids_all_hot__bothered_pools_closed_as_temps_soar/

The State of Mass claims they are too poor to keep pools open for "poor" kids.

However, the City of Boston operates 20 public pools, and Mayor Menino is extending the hours the Boston pools will be open until 9pm.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/19/city_hits_95_degrees_matches_record/

Two pools that were schedualled to close Monday, in Cambridge, recieved a one week reprieve, when City and State pols worked with the DCR to have the city pay half the funding. This even though the DCR claims it's not money, but that the lifeguards are college students who have left to return to college. The DCR claims that it costs $12,000 weekly to operate each pool.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x772306071/Magazine-Beach-pool-closed-after-chlorine-spill

I believe the DCR pools should be opened from Memorial day on weekends until schools close for summer, then daily thru Labour Day. DCR should have plans to open earlier in May and later in September when heat waves come early, like last year, or late as sometimes happens. This year we had plenty of cool rainy days until barely a month ago, and now the pools are being closed in Mid August, in Mid summer, with no place for kids to go.

DCR runs the pools and answers to the Stewardship Council which oversees DCR and all things environmental. RAISE YOUR VOICE AND BE HEARD! SEND AN EMAIL.

Please submit any comments to the Stewardship Council in written form via email c/o Jeff Daley at jeff.daley@state.ma.us or via mail to DCR Stewardship Council, c/o Jeff Daley, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114.

Call your State reps and senators. This is not just about where you swim, but serving a public need for those who are in need.