Pocono News Section

Columbia County Pool Needs Repairs

Columbia County Pool Needs Repairs - Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 5:35PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 @ 05:35pm EST

BRIAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- The Ber Vaughn pool manager says the Berwick borough council has no plans to shut down the pool, but she's afraid without necessary repairs, the nearly 40-year-old pool will close itself.

"Eventually, little tiny fixes aren't going to fix it anymore," said Janelle Surkin, manager of the Ber Vaughn pool. "There needs to be major structural repairs."

She says everything at the pool is safe, but the kiddie pool needs to be replaced and other cosmetic touch-ups are needed. But there's one repair that's already costing the borough money - leaky underground pipes.

"Our filter house is a good distance from the furthest pool, and we're losing water every day we have to refill it," added Surkin.

The pool had nearly 10,000 visits last year. Swimmers agree it's needed in the Berwick area.

"The kids would be sad," said Christine Dzoch of Shickshinny, whose family comes to the pool several times a summer. "Because we come here to break up the summer."

"I like the pool here because we come for my birthday every year, and I'd be sad if it closed down," said Sara Tronsue of Sweet Valley.

But the pool manager says not only kids would lose out if the pool shuts down.

"About 15 or 20 seniors at a time come and hang out at the end of the pool," said Surkin. "That's their socialization."

While borough council hasn't suggested closing the pool, Surkin fears when the time comes for major repairs, there won't be enough money. And the families would have no place to go.

"Is this the last year? Is next year the last year," questioned Surkin. "Are we going to open it up next year and find repairs are too much to fix at one time?"

Surkin says she spent her summers growing up at the Ber Vaughn pool. Her parents were factory workers.

"This is not a luxury. It's needed," said Surkin, who also coaches swimming at Berwick Area and run the aquatics program at the YMCA. "I'm a career aquatic person, because I got my foundation right here at Ber Vaughn pool."

And she hopes the pool will be open for generations to come. Surkin is starting a fundraising campaign to put in new slides. The previous ones were old and torn down. She also hopes local businesses will donate supplies needed for picnic tables and a pavilion -- cement, wood, shingles, etc. Surkin thinks someone working to become an Eagle Scout will pick up the project.

Eyewitness News left messages for the Berwick borough manager, but he hasn't returned our calls.