The City of Newburgh will enter its third summer without the use of the aquatic center and pool at Delano-Hitch Park but splash pad construction is anticipated to be completed by this summer.

Engineering firm Clark Patterson Lee [CPL], represented by John Szarowski and Jennifer Wengender, who was communicating via Zoom, presented an update on the pool during the city work session last Thursday night.

Two community splash pads were previously approved by city council to be built by this summer at Xavier Lunan Park and Tyrone Crabb Park. According to Szarowski and Wengender, CPL is still waiting for the delivery of materials to be sent for the construction of these splash pads. The reason for the delay is mainly due to delivery chain issues as a result of the pandemic. Another splash pad is also available to the public for usage at Audrey Carey Park.

Discussing the aquatic center, it has remained closed for the past several years due to the on-going COVID pandemic and additional repairs and maintenance are also needed. City Council members wish to see the aquatic center reopened and repaired as quickly as possible.
The current Delano-Hitch Aquatic Center and Pool, according to CPL’s preliminary research, features six lanes for swimming with two entry steps to the pool, a 20 foot radius splash pad, a water slide with wooden steps, a zero entry ramp, a below deck filter room for the pool and an abandoned locker room and changing area. The pool was first constructed in the 1960’s and the last upgrade occurred in 2000.

The newly proposed concept for the aquatic center is a brand new pool with newly constructed shelters, additional benches and lounge chairs and a newly constructed community splash pad. The proposed separate splash pad, estimated at about 7000 square feet, would include the pad and additional seating areas for families.

For the proposed splash pads at Delano-Hitch, Councilman Omari Shakur asked the question if attendants would be needed for that specific site, in hopes of possible job openings for residents. According to Wengender, certain codes do not require attendants at this site but at the pool there must be lifeguard personnel when in usage. It would be up to the city if they so choose to have attendants present at the splash pad site.
Chain link fencing would surround the entire pool facility and separate fencing would surround the splash pad. The existing pool house located on site would remain where it is and serve as the main entry point for residents to check-in and change before heading out onto the pool deck. The brick arch entrance way facing Washington Street and 9W is to remain on-site.

The two pool sizes that CPL proposed were an Olympic-size swimming pool or a community-size pool. The community size pool would be similar in size to the competition pool at Newburgh Free Academy [NFA] Main campus. The Olympic-sized pool would be estimated at 13,450 square feet with the capability of holding almost 900 occupants in it. The estimated cost for this pool would be $5 million.

The community sized pool would be estimated at 3,375 square feet that would allow 225 occupants. The estimated cost would be $1.5 million. These costs would only include the pool and filter equipment. It does not include the other amenities and overall pool deck construction.

Newburgh City Council members expressed favor and interest in an Olympic-sized pool for the Delano-Hitch site. However, overall costs and the cost of maintenance would increase due to its size and the need for a sufficient lifeguard staff and safety measures with diving boards will need to be addressed and considered before making a formal decision.

Benefits to the construction of this type of pool are that it would serve as a location and attraction for swimming competition events. “I definitely like this new plan,” Shakur said.
Councilman Bob Sklarz raised the question about lifeguard recruitment for the pool, which may be difficult with the number required, but joined his fellow council members in support for a splash pad and pool. “I think it’s important that we have the combination that includes splash pad plus pool,” said Sklarz. “The pool gives the opportunity for kids of course but also our growing adult population.”

Wengender stated that certain code requirements state that four lifeguard personnel must be present if an Olympic-sized pool is in usage. Other codes determine the number of guards if a section of the pool is roped off and used for classes and other activities.

The anticipated plan, according to CPL, is to begin the construction of the Delano-Hitch splash pad and will have it completed for the public by next summer, 2023. The pool construction will however need more time before it can be opened to the public. Pool construction would not be completed until the end of the same summer due to required construction and certain health requirements and assessments that must be done prior. Mayor Torrance Harvey shared that he was not pleased with the answer from CPL about having to wait another summer for the pool facility to be open. “It’s really, really tough to tell our families and our kids that we have another summer without the swimming pool,” Harvey said.

Harvey shared that though the pool is closed again, he has made several calls to the Newburgh Enlarged City School District [NECSD] for the possibility of the community to use the NFA Main swimming pool. The idea would be for residents to come in and use the pool during various periods for recreation. During a previous summer, mobile water parks and slides were brought so people could use them for fun and recreation and Harvey looks to bring those back in the summertime.

The city council and the executive staff will be reviewing the proposal and additional monetary figures and costs heading into the city’s budget season this summer.