BROCKTON — Janece Mroz, 26, climbed into the lifeguard's chair for her first shift at the brand-new Cosgrove Pool on Monday. Guarding the East Side pool is a family tradition. Her sister, brother, aunt and uncle all worked at the old pool.
"There's definitely been upgrades," Mroz said from her perch as a group of young girls from Kiddie Haven daycare were the first to splash into the renovated pool.
Talk to anyone who attended Monday's ribbon-cutting at the pool, which is beside the Plouffe School on Crescent, and you'll hear a connection to the old pool. Mayor Robert F. Sullivan, for instance, was a Cosgrove lifeguard in 1988-89.
"This is a municipal pool that hadn't really had any money put into it in decades," Sullivan said poolside, adding that the city reaped the benefits of $6 million in federal money through partnership with Congressman Stephen Lynch, Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, all Democrats. Lynch attended Monday's ribbon-cutting.
'All I can say is 'wow''
City Councilor Moises Rodrigues was among city councilors who considered the old pool to look a bit like a prison, won changes to the pool plans. The former mayor said he's happy that the result "looks like an aquatic facility."
"All I can say is wow," Rodrigues said in a brief speech. "What's here today is what often doesn't happen with city government, the state government or even the federal government. The dump that used to be here compared to what's here now is eye-opening."
The pool is named for Lawrence R. Cosgrove, the first Brocktonian killed in World War 2. Members of the Cosgrove family, some of whom still live in Brockton, attended the groundbreaking for the project in September 2023. Sullivan said a separate ceremony with the Cosgrove family will be held in the coming weeks.
The renovated pool boasts new bathrooms, showers and shade structures. All swimmers will be in one continuous pool that goes from a splash pad through a wading area to a lap area. The new configuration makes it easier for lifeguards to keep their eyes on everyone.
'Great for families that can't get to the beach'
Brockton's unofficial historian, Bill Hogan, attended the ceremony. He swam backstroke on Brockton High swim teams in the early 1970s. That was an era where the old Cosgrove Pool, with its 50-meter length, helped Boxer swimmers hone their skills. There was an eight-year span, Hogan said, when Brockton went undefeated in meets.
The new pool maxes out at 25 meters, so it won't likely be hosting any competitive meets. But Hogan said the revamped facility could spark interest in swimming for new generations of Brocktonians. "I'm glad to see this for the kids," he said.
State Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, brought his swim trunks. After a swim, he dripped dry at a picnic table and took in the scene. "This is beautiful," Brady said. "This is great for families that can't get to the beach."
Brady attended, along with all members of Brockton's Beacon Hill delegation. State Rep. Michelle DuBois, D-10th, told the crowd good news that she helped secure $75,000 in funding for swim lessons.
The ribbon-cutting brought Gerald Carney down from New Hampshire. For seven years he managed the old pool. He told horror stories of the old diatomaceous earth filter system. The new filter system uses sand. Tim Carpenter, the city's commissioner of parks, said the Cosgrove and Manning pools now have the same system, which should make them easier to maintain.
Mroz, the lifeguard, battled the sun as her duties began. Her chair lacked a shade umbrella. But soon a city worker brought one over. She relaxed in the chair and stood watch as the first group of swimmers enjoyed Brockton's new pool.
Want to swim?
The Cosgrove Pool at 250 Crescent St. is open every day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Here's a list of other nearby places to swim.
Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.
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