Governor Hochul Announces NY SWIMS

The news has already been reported on WAMC and on Facebook, but following is quoted from Governor Kathy Hochul's website:

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $150 million in capital grants have been awarded to fund 37 projects in underserved communities across the State as part of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative . . . .

The historic $150 million NY SWIMS investment to support pools in underserved communities is New York's biggest investment in swimming since the New Deal. The program provides grants between $50,000 and $10 million to help municipalities design, construct, rehabilitate, or modernize public swimming facilities, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged and underserved communities that lack access to safe swimming and outdoor recreation opportunities. Applications were evaluated on characteristics of project need, impact and viability. In addition to various costs to develop swimming areas, a portion of NY SWIMS grants can be used to add amenities, including splash pads, concession stands, picnic areas and playgrounds. . . .

Hudson is one of the grant recipients. This information, too, is quoted from the governor's website.

City of Hudson – ($792,649) Waterfront Public Pool: The City of Hudson will construct a municipal public pool at the scenic Hudson River waterfront. The pool will be designed to be fully accessible to persons of limited mobility and adjacent to a concentration of public housing projects in the city.

Although apparently the City had to apply for this grant, the announcement of the award is the first the public has heard of it. The idea of a pool raises a few questions. Where at the waterfront will a pool be built? The plans for the Dunn Warehouse presented by the CGS Group almost a year ago included an outdoor pool. Will this $792,649 be used for that, or are we talking about a different plan for an outdoor pool?  

Given the sad fate of the splash pad in the newly refurbished playground at Promenade Hill, which was brutally vandalized, there is another question: How and by whom will the pool be staffed and maintained?