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Residents urge commission to accept $2.6M grant and save Sherrill pool
Summary
Dozens of residents, lifeguards and former commissioners urged the Sherrill commission to accept a $2.6 million New York Swims grant to rebuild the pool, citing low per-taxpayer cost, youth programming, lifeguard jobs, and drowning-prevention benefits.
Multiple residents and former officials urged the commission to accept the $2.6 million New York Swims grant and proceed with a pool rebuild. Lauren McDonald told the commission the pool cost taxpayers about $70,000 in 2025 and that, in her example, a household paying $100,000 in property taxes effectively paid about $13 for the pool last year. Former Commissioner Jason Merrow called the pool a community asset that sustains property values and recommended fundraising, sponsorships and volunteer committees to offset operating costs.
Several youth and lifeguards described the pool as a place to learn to swim, earn lifeguard pay and build social ties. Rebecca Hatch cited public-health research on drowning risk and argued the pool serves youth mental health and structured recreation. Speakers also warned that closing the pool would carry decommissioning costs — one speaker cited an engineer's estimate of about $200,000 to close the facility — and urged the commission to pursue the grant as an investment in the community.
