Pleasant Valley Pool Commission Prepares for Possible Pool Renovations

The Pleasant Valley Pool Commission is planning about $100,000 worth of  improvements at the township pool complex at Pleasant Valley Park off Valley Road. Plans call for new concrete decking, new lifeguard chairs, pool resurfacing and a ramp that would allow pool access for handicapped swimmers.

But in order to finish the work this fall, the commission faces a Sept. 2 deadline for finding contractors to install the improvements, according to Monday night's discussion at the pool commission meeting.

The commission on Monday decided to advertise for one main bid seeking a contractor to perform the pool resurfacing, and then to prepare three alternate bids for the proposed concrete decking, new guard chairs, and a ramp to provide access for handicapped swimmers. That would allow the projects to be completed by a combination of more than one contractor, and to carry out all or only some of the planned improvements.

Under that timeline, bids must be submitted by Sept. 2, in order to allow time for the Bernards Township Committee at its Sept. 14 meeting to approve a contract or contracts for the work. If all goes smoothly, the goal is for the pool projects to be started and finished this fall, with the job to begin shortly after the pool closes after Labor Day, said Jennifer Gander, township director of parks and recreation.

The township already has allocated about $100,000 for the proposed improvements, said Bruce Ficken, chairman of the commission.

Gander said three contractors already had picked up bid packages for the job. She said she is expecting much interest from potential bidders.

Right now, the pool has a lift to lower handicapped swimmers into the water, but that can be harder to use than a ramp, Gander said.

Following the discussion about alternative bid proposals, commissioner Michael Menza and other commission members raised concerns about the planned layout of the handicap ramp into the main pool. The plan now is for a ramp that descends along the edge of the pool and then turns to lead to a parallel slope along the first half of the ramp. Menza and others said they believe a straighter, gradually sloped "zero-depth entry" ramp would be more child-friendly and easier for all swimmers to enter the pool.

Changing plans for the handicap ramp would delay the progress of the other improvements, according to the discussion. But commissioners said they would continue to consider the logistics of a zero-depth entry for the main pool while the bidding process proceeds. Commission members said they are hoping the economy and interest by contractors will yield plans for many options on the pool improvments. "Let the competition begin," Ficken said.

The commission members also noted the achievements of the Pleasant Valley Pool Swim Team and the success of Grandparents' Day.

Gander reported there now are 51 families on a waiting list to join the pool, which she said is slightly lower than last year's list, "but still not too bad."

Additionally, the hot summer weather and an increase in guests have increased gate revenue by almost $10,000, which makes less likely an increase in membership fees for the 2011 pool season, Gander reported.