The Programs and Services and Public Facilities Committees will meet jointly and virtually (Zoom link) TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 21 at 7PM for an information session/update on the Gath Pool Project. The pool and the bathhouse, located at 256 Albermarle Road, were built over 60 years ago and do not meet current ADA or Massachusetts Architectural Access Board standards. Since 2021, the City (Parks, Recreation & Culture Department with the Building Department) has been meeting with the stakeholders, holding community meetings, and public hearings.
Last week, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) held a public hearing on a request for $5,834,362 in CPA funds for Phase III of the project. The remaining costs for the project are expected to be approximately $7,273,562 to be funded with $1,000,000 from America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $400,000 from a Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Earmark. The CPC previously granted $546,500 in CPA funds for Phases I and II.
While the project has evolved over time, taking into consideration feedback from stakeholders, concerns remain regarding the depth of the pool, which is currently proposed to be 4 feet at the shallow end. The Blue Fish Swim Team, a recreational swim team consisting of boys and girls between the ages 6 through 18, has raised concerns over the proposed pool depth. City Councilors have also expressed concerns. Ward 3 At Large City Councilor Andrea Kelley has expressed concern with the “no-hesitation path that the PR&C Commission(er) is on regarding the depth of the proposed Gath Pool.” She referred to the input received from many parents and physicians “about the safety hazard of having the pool only be 4′ in depth at the start lane. Young and inexperienced swimmers don’t yet know how to do a shallow surface dive, and the risk of neck and spinal column injury is at play.”
On March 10, Parks, Recreation & Culture Commissioner Nicole Banks, sent this email to the City Council regarding these concerns. She reports that after listening to the concerns raised by the Swim Team at a meeting on March 3, they met with the project consultant to review possible options but noted that “the requested design does not meet the swim team’s requested outcome, significantly limits the Department’s ability to expand programming, and significantly reduces the amount of space available to pool guests for recreational swimming and enjoyment throughout most of the hours of operation.”
In response, Blue Fish Swim Team coaches and managers, Mary and Scott Pohlman, wrote to clarify the Swim Team’s limited ability to provide input into the design and added that although they are pleased with the two separate pools and filters, they could not support the 4=foot shallow-end depth. “It is not prudent and safe as this exposes any swimmer to head and neck injuries when diving.”
After reviewing the updated pool designs, the geotechnical report, the site plan review memo, and the Lap Pool Depth Study prepared by the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department with their consultants, the CPC unanimously voted to recommend full funding of the project through bonding.
