SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Forest Park Pool in Springfield reopened on Monday with some extra security in place.
Two injured after crash on State Street in Springfield “This pool is open for the young people, the young families who really want to be here,” said Tom Ashe, Director of Parks, Building and Recreation for the City of Springfield.
The pool has been closed for days after a string of vandalism. Officials have stated that extra measures will be taken on Monday to ensure everyone’s safety.
“It’s the right thing to do, to open up the pool again, and we hope given the amount of time we were closed hopefully a message was sent and the kids realized they were only hurting themselves,” said Ashe.
This all comes after juveniles and young adults came to the pool, verbally assaulting Forest Park staff and throwing broken glass into the pool.
Jaiden Briotta from Springfield told 22News people should not want to mess up the amenities at their local park, “It’s kind of like disappointing because everybody else wants to be a part of the pool and go into it but then one person messes up and you can’t really do that, it messes it up for everybody.”
He says many residents rely on this pool on a hot day, “I’m really excited for it opening again, especially when people don’t have pools available on a hot day. It’s like a perfect time to go in.”
Springfield city officials are hopeful that the criminal activity at the pool is put to an end because if it continues, Mayor Sarno says that can result in the pool closing for the season.
Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield states, “Unfortunately, as has been seen in Worcester and also at our state’s pool facility at Blunt Park, a small percentage of disrespectful and unruly juvenile delinquents and young adults have tried to take away from the vast majority of our law-abiding young people, adults, and their families – we will not tolerate it and not let them win!”
“I remain hopeful that we will be able to keep our Forest Park pool open for the summer season, but if criminal activities continue to occur, arrests will be made and pursuit of their parents to also take responsibility for their negative actions will be initiated. Again, we remain hopeful that everyone can continue to enjoy our Forest Park pool, but if criminal activities continue to occur a decision will be rendered about the possible shutdown of the pool for the season. I now ask our community to not only monitor their children but also, if criminal activities continue, stand by our SPD and Sheriff’s Department for the necessary actions they may have to undertake to quell these situations – hopefully our judicial system will back us up too.”
Forest Park Pool is open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Gerena pool is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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