Community Corner
Palmer Pool Attendance Dips in 100 Degree Temps
Pool's 82 degree water provides little refuge from heat
It's a little-known fact about the Palmer Township Community Pool.
The pool is shaped like a P and an L: a P for Palmer Township and an L for the Palmer Township Lions Club, which first opened the pool in 1965.
Diane Mullen has overseen the pool for the past 17 summers, just after the township acquired it from the Lions Club.
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"A lot of people don't know why it's shaped that way," said Mullen, the pool's manager.
She knows the pool's history well, although is a little fuzzy on its dimensions. But the pool does hold 380,000 gallons of water and costs about $80,000 to maintain during the summer.
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Mullen sat in her office with a few lifeguards and assistant manager Korey Castronuovo Thursday as a fan blew to cool off the near 100 degrees that was baking the building.
The pool opened for the season on Memorial Day weekend, as it usually does. But business isn't booming like the old days, Mullen said, especially when temperatures are close to 100 degrees.
"When temperatures are this high, nobody comes," Mullen said. "More people are here when temperatures are between 85 and 90 degrees. Right now, it's too hot to be here. Our water temperature is 82 degrees. That's very warm; not even refreshing."
The pool employs 38 teenagers, around 10 adults and 17 lifeguards, Mullen said. Family pool membership is usually between 650 and 700 passes, a little lower this year than prior years due to the economy, Mullen said.
Walk-up sales, though, are faring much better this year. Mullen said they're 20 percent higher this year for sales at the gate. The cost at the gate is $7 for an adult and $5.50 for children on weekends.
During the week, the gate cost is $6.50 for adults and $5 for children. A family membership is $145.
Something new this year, Mullen said, is Family Night.
Family Nights are twice this summer with another one scheduled for Aug. 12. The pool stays open until 11pm and a DJ plays music. The pool will also offer a Movie Night. That will take place on July 29 with the showing of "Up."