Frank Castiglia: Fulton Kids Have Nowhere To Swim

by Contributor | July 10, 2020 9:31 am

Three-Two-One-Zero,

No that is not the count down to the start of a race.

This is the count down of our swimming places for the kids in the City of Fulton.

The Baby Boomers of the City of Fulton can remember all of them.

As a kid that lived in the City of Fulton during the 60s I can remember three swimming places.

1-Sharps Pond (Rowlee Beach) 1-Stevenson Beach (Lake) 1-Pool at War Memorial (West-Side Pool). That made three places to swim.

Some time in the 70s the East-Side Pool was built for the kids on the East-Side, that still gave us three places to swim.

Now the City leaders were thinking into the future when the built both pools. They had the knowledge that it would be safer and healthier for the children of the future.

With two pools, the lake and Sharps Pond were still able to be used for fishing and ice skating.

 The pond had many fishing contests through the years, giving the kids activities that were also learning activities. The lake was used for boat races, fishing.

With the building of the East-Side pool the swimming at the pond was stopped. Leaving still three swimming places(West-Side, East-Side Pools, and the lake).

Well pretty soon the walls came crashing down.

First up was taking the life guards out of the lake, meaning we had two swimming places.

Then with the West-Side pool needing repairs the city had more important issues than giving the children a place to swim. So they closed the West-Side Pool. Leaving the children only one place to swim. At that time I warned the public that the East-Pool would be next. 

Well sure enough again with the need of repairs, and again the city having more important issues, the city closed the East-Side Pool. Now this left the City of Fulton children zero swimming places.

I’m sure someone will say “Wait a minute, they can swim at the YMCA or Granby School and then there was North Bay Campgrounds.” Well I don’t know any kid that wants to go inside to swim on a 80 or 90 degree day. Also the lake was closed for swimming. Also some will say many people have private pools and many people take their children away on vacations. I’m sorry but the city has an obligation to all the children of the city and there are many that aren’t as privileged as others and have no place to swim.

Now the city has made a decision to decommission the dam and Sharps Pond because there are repairs that need to be done. Again the city has other issues and can’t afford to repair the dam and save a historical location and a place for children to learn how to fish and families have a place to take their children without any costs.

Now one of the elected officials ran on as part of their campaign issues that the pond should be and would be saved. Well that promise went down the creek along with the dam.

People of Fulton, stand up for the children that need some good healthy outdoor activities. 

Require the City to repair the Dam giving the children of Fulton memories like the ones that the Baby Boomers have of growing up in the City of Fulton.

– Frank Castiglia Jr.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/frank-castiglia-fulton-kids-have-nowhere-to-swim/

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