Scott Township celebrates last days of old swimming pool

The Scott Township pool has seen a lot of little swimmers, special celebrations and family gatherings in its nearly 50 year history, which will be coming to a close. But in its place will be a new and much improved pool.

On Aug.16, the pool closes to be completely demolished and then rebuilt. This July 4th holiday will be the last big weekend for the pool, and there is no one better to talk about its history than the manager, Ron Ellis.

“I’ve been there for 46 of the last 48 years. It honestly hasn’t changed that much over the years,” he said.

Mr. Ellis is as much as a fixture in the community as the pool itself. A retired physical education teacher from the Chartiers Valley School District, he knows most of those who use the pool every summer.

The pool is known for its sense of community and as a place where families have gone for years.

“I’ve taught swimming lessons to folks who now bring their children. When we hire lifeguards, they are usually with us for seven or eight years. They start in high school and stay with us all through college,” he said.

The July 4th weekend always

draws a large crowd, and the Customer Appreciation Day is a favorite of Mr. Ellis.

“We just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone in the community. We have all sorts of races and games with prizes. And there are refreshments,” he said. Customer Appreciation Day is always the last Monday in July, this year on July 27.

One of the biggest changes with the new pool will be the elimination of “Ellis Island.” In the middle of the current is a small island that over the years was dubbed after the beloved teacher and pool manager.

“The maintenance men even painted ‘Ellis Island’ on it,” Denise Fitzgerald, township manager said, “Everyone loves Mr. Ellis.”

In order to create more of a streamlined swimming experience, the island will be removed. Other changes include a zero entry, two side-by-side slides, climbing walls and a diving board.

The old pool, built in 1968, is well-used and, according to Ms. Fitzgerald, has been well-loved.

“This pool has given a lot of joy to Scott Township and it is starting to show some wear and tear. It is time to update it,” she said.

Laura Hartman has been instrumental in the new pool development and heads the Scott Pool Citizens Advisory Committee. Both of her daughters, Allison, now 25, and Kelly, now 22, served as life guards at the pool and she remembers them growing up and learning how to swim at the pool.

“This is really a focal point for our community. Lots of families come here nearly every day. It is truly a gem,” she said.

Ms. Hartman said the upgrades will ensure family and community fun for years to come.

“We are hoping to bring back the glory days of the pool,” she said.

From its early days, the pool has been important to families. Mr. Ellis said attendance has been steady over the years, with average daily attendance anywhere from 300-400 visitors.

Emily Watchek, 20, remembers coming to the pool as a child and now serves as an assistant, helping with sales and organizing swimming and programming.

This is the sixth summer Ms. Watchek has worked at the pool.

“I have always been a swimmer and wanted to be a lifeguard and at first, all of my friends were here, so I thought it was cool,” she said. When she went to college, she realized how valuable the summer experience was.

“It isn’t just sitting there and watching people. It is a lot of responsibly,” she said.

She also enjoys interacting with repeat patrons.

“We have so many regular that rely on this place. It isn’t just moms with their kids; we have all sorts of programming for everyone. It plays a huge part in people’s lives here,” Ms. Watchek said.

When the township weighed repairing and updating the old pool or building a new one, the latter choice made more sense. The new pool will cost approximately $3 million and is hoped to be completed by Memorial Day weekend 2016.