Permits needed to use 2 popular swimming holes

People who like to cool off at the popular Big Deep and Little Deep swimming areas will be required to get permits during the summer months beginning next year.

The permit regulation was adopted by the Town Board on Tuesday.

“The whole idea that I had behind this was it just gives the police ... a tool for when they do get a call from one of the residents that there’s mischief afoot,” town Supervisor Bill McKenna said. “They’ll be able to go in, confront the scoundrels, make sure that they have their permit and, if they don’t, they can bring them down to dispatch, where they have to get their permit.”

Both swimming areas are part of the Sawkill Creek, with access to Big Deep off state Route 212 and Little Deep off Zena Road.

Under the new regulations, permitted hours for the sites will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 15 to Sept. 30, and a sign will be posted stating that swimming is “at your own risk.”

Other rules included with the permit include:

• A limit of six people per group, although immediate family members would not be included in the count.

• A prohibition of fires, cooking and glass containers.

• Dogs must be kept on leashes.

• A prohibition of camping, hunting, firearms and other weapons.

• A prohibition of loud music, although how sound levels would be measured is not mentioned.

Town officials said a fee will be determined later and would be charged only to nonresidents.

Following the board meeting, McKenna said the permit requirement was adopted because neighbors of the swimming holes have complained about disruptions.

“One of the private swimming holes has been closed, which is pushing more people down to Big and Little Deep,” he said. “We’re getting big groups of people in there having parties, and it’s all wonderful, but we need to make sure everybody has a good time in there, so we decided to set some rules.”

McKenna acknowledged there will be people who use the areas for things other than swimming.

“We’re going to have dog walkers in there early in the morning,” he said. “The police are not going to be down there patrolling this. ... I don’t see that we’re going to be down there throwing people out.”