Bliss Pool will not open for the Summer 2021!

This letter was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Marjorie Morgan, a long time resident of Longmeadow.

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On the eve of the Memorial Day holidays many in Longmeadow received a E-mail from Longmeadow Parks and Recreation Dept.  The good news is that the Reynolds Pool at Greenwood will open June 16th.

And by the way, Bliss Pool will not open this year, hoping for "a stronger season next year".  What does that mean?  Stronger what?

While you think about this I can add a few things that come to my mind.

First, half the town is left with no open pool.  The Bliss Park playground is heavily utilized.  No swim for these kids.  Many of the kids who use this pool ride their bike there.  No one drives them.  Just look at the bike racks on a hot day.

 

Someone suggested, let me see if I can recall, the following.  The Longmeadow Country Club, the Field Club, the Yacht Club, the JCC and so on.

 

I shouldn’t need to point out these are expensive clubs to join.  Some  still by invitation?  If the parents can afford to join, they would need transportation.  Many parents work....biking is not a option for little children and not really safe for older ones.  Many younger kids arrive at Bliss with their baby sitter.

This has been a difficult year for our community and it’s children.  Schools were closed, opened, who knew what next.  Closing a well known loved activity simply does not make sense.

This plan results in economic discrimination as well as geographical. If you can’t pay you can’t play.  If you can’t get to the pool, well, wait for a “stronger" season.

 
Our community spoke out to Save Alex’s Bagel Shop....we did it.  Let the Select Board know how you feel.  Let the town manager know and ask Parks and Rec how we can be stronger!

 
This comes under the heading “ if it isn’t one thing it’s another”.  Don’t let this slip by.  We need to balance resources....!   

 

Marjorie Morgan
Longmeadow Resident