ALBANY — Temperatures will likely top 90 degrees within the coming weeks and South End residents are seeking ways to cool off while the city builds a new Lincoln Park pool.
The city announced last year it had chosen a replacement plan for the massive, aging swimming hole that is expected to cost $17 million.
It was the largest public pool in the city and a needed oasis in the hot weather for residents.
Tim Diamond, deputy commissioner of recreation for the city, recently laid out for the South End Community Collaborative Albany’s plans for summer activities, including its pools and spray pads.
Starting June 26, three pools will be open: at Mater Cristi Park, Arbor Hill Community Center and Albany High School.
The pools will have a learn-to-swim program from 9 to 11 a.m., with public swim from 1 to 6 p.m., according to the city’s website.
The city will also operate 10 of its 11 spray pads, including one at Lincoln Park, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Swinburne Park will be closed this summer for renovations.
But South End residents and community groups expressed concerns about lack of swimming options in their neighborhoods. Most South End residents live several miles from those three pools.
Lily Mercogliano Easton, president of the Lincoln Park Alliance, said the closure of the pool this summer only highlighted its importance to the community.
The group is trying to support any efforts to increase transportation to other city pools and support the pool being re-opened on schedule, she said in an interview on Friday.
“We’re hoping enough resources come together so folks have enough places to cool down,” she said.
The city does no thave plans provide any transportation for South End residents to other city pool, Diamond said.
Diamond said he also wasn’t aware of any conversations to have CDTA provide free transportation to city pools for South End residents.
A CDTA spokeswoman said a representative of the South End Community Collaborative reached out to the authority earlier this week to start a discussion around possible transportation to other city pools. The authority also distributes passes to agencies and nonprofits for them to use, she added.
The groups also asked Diamond if the city could establish an organized recreational activities camp for neighborhood children at Lincoln Park. The city is running a similar program at Black Lives Matter Park in West Hill.
Tracie Killar, director of the South End Children’s Cafe, urged Diamond to bring the groups’ concerns to city leaders.
“Next month is June and it’s going to get hot,” she said. “I would really ask that you share the urgency and how important this is for our kids in the South End in summer.”
The city expects to borrow $17 million for the Lincoln Park pool’s replacement over the next few years, according to the 2023 budget.
The city and Business For Good have partnered on a fundraising campaign that is trying to raise $10 million to offset some of those costs.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s chief of staff David Galin said the final engineering plans for the pool itself are complete and the city is finalizing engineering plans for the filtration system building and additional restrooms. The city expects construction to begin later this year.