Community Corner
West Orange Pool to Open on Saturday
Despite the heat wave, township officials say they will stick to original schedule.
Though pools in other communities are opening this week due to the heat wave rolling into Essex County this week, West Orange officials maintained the pool will not open full-time until Saturday.
Director of Recreation Bill Kehoe called rumors of an early opening “wishful thinking,” saying this week is an “important week for [the Recreation Department],” who need the time to prepare the pool for more regular day-to-day use in the summer. Furthermore, many of the lifeguards are not available to begin work before Saturday.
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However, at least one other community, nearby Montclair, agreed to open the pool early for residents for heat relief.
Crews in West Orange will be repainting, landscaping and cleaning all this week in preparation for the Saturday, June 23 opening. The pool has been open on weekends since Memorial Day, but after Saturday it will be open to members of the public during the week through the rest of summer. “We were in no position to arbitrarily decide to open early,” added Kehoe.
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Fire Department Administrator Micky Wagner said the town will have at least one cooling station set up at the Council Chambers on 66 Main St. between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are still discussing whether to add one at the Codey South Mountain Arena. Regarding the hours for the cooling station, she said, “If anything, they would be extended [later].”
The Cedar Grove pool opened June 18. The Verona pool opened June 20. The Maplewood and North Caldwell pools, however, like West Orange, will wait to open until Saturday.
