Pocono News Section

Milton Community Pool in Need of Rescue

Milton Community Pool in Need of Rescue - Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 4:56PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 @ 04:56pm EST
Milton, Northumberland County-

The attendance numbers are up, but the dollar figures are still down at a community pool in Northumberland County.

We looked into the reasons why the pool is in need of rescue.

Hundreds of children and adults bask in the sun and splash in the surf each day at the Milton Community Pool.

Dave Nowrowski, of Shamokin, even brought some of his summer campers out to beat the heat.

Nowrowski said, “On a hot day like today, what’s a better thing to do than get out of the house, come out and get some sun, swim, have fun? And it's especially a key part of our camp. We do some activities in the morning and let out some steam in the afternoon.”

But that may not be an option for long. Despite Milton borough officials’ best efforts, the pool is beginning to drown in debt.

Borough Manager Chuck Beck noted, “The issue is the age of the pool and the lack of maintenance over the last 10 years.”

Pool Manager Amanda Wade said, “It does need a lot more work, and the borough, they’re so great with us. They really do make sure we have everything we need out here.”

The pool’s expenses have outweighed its revenues for the last several years. Borough officials don’t expect it to be a cash cow, but wish it could at least break even.

They’re looking into forming partnerships with other nearby municipalities whose residents currently use the Milton pool.

Beck explained, “They pay the same prices as our residents. But at the end of the year, whatever the deficit is, that is paid totally by our residents.”

A multi-community recreation authority would also help the pool in its quest to secure grant money.

Swimmers here say they hope officials will find a way to keep the Milton pool afloat.

Wade added, “It’s a really big part of the community and I can’t imagine it being taken away from them.”

Officials in Milton say they are also looking into the possibility of partnering with the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA to run the pool.