Everybody (back) into the Pool!

By Agota Vamos

After being left high and dry for more than a month, swimmers can take a dip again at RVCC.

A broken valve kept the pool closed from January 15 to February 23, and also idled the lifeguards who worked there.

“The pool was closed for the replacement of a major water flow valve,” explained John D. Maso, executive director of Facilities and Grounds Department. The valve regulates the water and chlorine level and also the water temperature.

The large four-inch water control valve, located in the pool pump room, was replaced on February 9. The pool was then filled up with water and reached its proper swimming temperature of 83 degrees on February 23, and opened the same day.

Since the Physical Education Building was built in 1975, mechanical and control problems are to be expected, said Maso. The pool will be closing again, perhaps in the fall, as part of the Physical Education Building upgrade project, according to Jeanne Giordano, executive director of Management, Conference and Communication Services.

One thing is for sure, said Maso, the pool has to be closed for nine weeks to renovate the old equipment and do some interior work, like lighting. “We have been looking at some design and recently I went to Rockland High School in New York State to look at a pool that has the type of lights where they go across the pool. […] They will give good lighting over the pool area,” said John Maso.

This type of lighting is not just functional and pretty, but also energy efficient. They are also planning to do some tile and painting work to make the swimming pool more aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, the pool acoustically is not a good design. The renovation is trying to solve this problem by acoustical paneling. The new project provides new plastic formed seating for the guests and the swimmers.

RVCC got $1.1 million capital money from Somerset and Hunterdon County to renovate the Physical Education Complex. This budget is set for the renovation of the gym, which is already done, the swimming pool, the corridors and the roof of the building.

This is the future, but now the pool is open for students, staff, and faculty members and also for the community. Welcome back the student life guards and thanks to the Facilities and Grounds Department for the quick work and beating the deadline.

Use of Physical Education facilities is free for faculty and staff members, students with current I.D. card, and senior citizens with College Gold Card. All other patrons may use the Pool Facility for $3/session per person.

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