Vandergrift Pool delays opening; others ready for Memorial Day

Some area pools are making a splash in time for traditional opening day — Memorial Day weekend — but at least one has to come up for air.

Vandergrift Pool, along La Belle Vue Road, will not open its gates as scheduled.

The board announced on social media that unforeseen circumstances will delay the opening. Borough Secretary Steve DelleDonne said it could be mid-June before repairs are complete on a leaky pool liner.

DelleDonne said the damaged pool liner was installed just two years ago and paid for by a $165,000 grant from the state Commonwealth Financing Authority.

KGD Contracting is expected to begin repairs Wednesday, with work expected to take up to two weeks.

According to a post on the pool’s Facebook page: “We will have a better idea next week of when we will open.

“We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you all at the pool in the near future.”

DelleDone said pool officials will likely “do something” for members who already purchased 2023 passes.

Vandergrift resident Nicole Dunmire said she’s disappointed to hear the pool won’t open Memorial Day.

“We’re daily visitors,” she said. “While we’re bummed the pool is not opening on time this summer, we certainly understand that repairs needed are out of control of those who manage the pool. I appreciate the transparency of the pool (officials) and the advanced warning of the delayed opening. This will give us other activities to plan while we patiently wait for opening day.”

This month, the pool hosted two maintenance days where volunteers helped spruce up the grounds by painting picnic tables and cleaning the changing areas.

Elsewhere in the region, pool patrons can get ready to take a dip.

At Sylvan Park pool in Harrison, workers are hurriedly putting the finishing touches on a facelift to the 200-foot slide that will be unveiled opening day, Saturday.

The $40,000 overhaul is the first since the slide was installed in the late 1980s.

“The slide is just one of all sorts of things that make Sylvan a family-oriented destination,” said Nathan Petrak, swim team coach. “The park is a great way to spend the summer.”

Pool President Patrick Bundy said work at the grounds began weeks ago to prepare for a busy summer where more than 500 member families spend their days. The 365,000-gallon heated pool has two diving boards. There also is a concession stand and a baby pool with a whale-shaped sprinkler.

“We don’t have much left in the area for families,” Bundy said. “It’s important to give kids something to do.”

Work this year included updates to the shower system and the addition of child changing stations.

“We’ve done some painting and other typical maintenance, but the slide is the big one,” Bundy said.

The sun-drenched waterslide, faded over the years, will return to its original bright blue color. The metal frame supports will be upgraded, and the interior received a special sealcoat.

Other work on this year’s schedule includes the addition of LED lighting and an ATM .

Opened in 1964, Sylvan is nestled in a neighborhood off Burtner Road and is surrounded by trees, homes and a creek. The board in recent years has added several themed events, such as movie nights and Christmas in July.

The pool is hiring certified lifeguards, desk attendants, cooks and concession workers who are 15 or older.

The same is true of Leechburg Area Pool, where workers are needed to staff the site along Park Road in Gilpin.

This week, construction continues on one of two new pavilions which will be available to rent from noon to 8 p.m. for $30, according to Board Treasurer Steve Senjan.

By the time the pool opens at noon Saturday, there will be several other visible upgrades, according to the website. They include a coat of paint on the entire pool, gaga ball pit improvements and new concrete pads for the picnic tables.

A blue fence that hems the grounds will be removed to expand the recreation area by 10,000 square feet, Senjan said.

Leechburg Area Community Corporation donated $10,000 for the pavilion and the fence removal, he said.

Old, wooden stairs were replaced with nonslip, powder-coated steel steps. They were built and installed by Steel City Fabricators in Braddock.

Surrounded by woods, the pool has been a summertime staple since 1962 and includes a high dive, slide and sand volleyball court.

The facility will welcome at least 189 new members this swim season, thanks to Leechburg Council’s recent vote to purchase 189 student passes.

“That’s fantastic,” Senjan said. “We’ve been trying to work with the borough for years, and the borough leaders wanted to help the pool and help the kids in Leechburg. Because of that, our memberships have tripled.”

The 189 passes will be paid for with money from the American Rescue Plan . The cost is just less than $9,500 for the passes, which will go to district students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Councilman Chuck Pascal said the passes will “make life a little easier for children and families who are struggling to get by in the aftermath of the pandemic.”

“Allowing every child regardless of circumstances to be able to have access to recreation and to enjoy our pool is consistent with our commitment to our community’s children and to making Leechburg a desirable and equitable place to live,” Pascal said.

Leechburg Area School District Superintendent Tiffany Nix said the free pool passes for students residing in the borough is a “generous and kind” gesture.

“We’re very appreciative that Leechburg Council would think to include our students in their funding projects. Students will make a summer of memories at the pool,” Nix said. “We can’t place a pricetag on this priceless contribution that the borough has made.”

Senjan said Leechburg Area Pool appears to be getting business from the Vandergrift area because of its delayed opening.

Vandergrift resident Shannon Gourley said she takes her children to the pool several times each season.

“People may want to be make other plans for the summer if the pool isn’t going to open soon, so it’s best they be transparent on when it will open,” Gourley said.

Vandergrift councilmembers and parks/recreation/pool committee members Jody Sarno, Daisha Clayton and John Uskuraitis did not respond to requests for comment.

Opening days

• Leechburg Area Pool is scheduled to open Saturday. There are a variety of admission fees, from nonmember night swims for $4 to full-season family passes for $400. For more, visit leechburgpool.com or call 724-845-8171.

• Sylvan Park is scheduled to open Saturday. There are a variety of fees for guests, singles, couples and family memberships. For more, visit sylvanparkpool.org or call 724-226-1121.

• Veterans’ Memorial Pool in Greensburg will be open, beginning June 6, from noon to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Daily admission for children is $7; adult admission is $8. For more, visit greensburgpa.org/veterans-memorial-pool or call 724-838-4324.

• Murrysville Swim Club is scheduled to open May 27 from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Regular hours begin June 3. The pool will be open from 12:30 to 7:30 daily, weather permitting. There are a variety of fees for guests, singles, couples and family memberships. For more, visit murrysvilleswimclub.org or call 724-327-0713.

• Meadowink Swim Club in Murrysville will be open, beginning May 27, from 3 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekends. Individual memberships cost $235 per year, and family memberships cost $425 per year. For more, visit meadowinkgolf.com or call 724-327-8243.

• Rogers-McFeely Memorial Pool in Latrobe will be open, beginning June 3, from noon to 5:30 p.m. The pool will stay open until 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Season passes are available at the Greater Latrobe Parks & Recreation Office and general admission costs $7. For more, visit latroberecreation.com or call 724-537-6401.

• The tentative opening date for Youngwood Area Park & Pool is June 2. Season passes and memberships are available for sale at youngwoodparknpool.com. For more, call 724-925-3133.