Hanging at the Town Pool

The cloudless blue skies and gentle breezes of the past few days have provided a wonderful break from last week’s brutal heat and storms. It’s the kind of weather I think must exist in heaven. And it’s perfect weather to spend some time at a pool. For me, that means West Orange’s own Ginny Duenkel Pool, located off Cherry Street near Colgate Field. 

Much is made of the diversity that exists at all levels in West Orange. Well, I can’t think of a place where the breadth and depth of that rich diversity is so apparent and accessible than a warm, sunny afternoon at Ginny Duenkel Pool. Young and old, from neighborhoods throughout the town — such as St. Cloud, Eagle Rock, Pleasantdale, Gregory, Hazel and the Heights — all come together to relax, swim, chat and play.

I mean, just the fact that people allow their neighbors to see them in a swimsuit is an indication of how comfortable they are and happy for the opportunity to enjoy the sun and company of fellow residents.

But the members are just one great element of our town pool. Built in 1967, the pool is named after a West Orange High School senior who won multiple medals, including a gold in the 400-meter Freestyle, at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. The facility has been upgraded and the grounds expanded several times since then.  There are three pools: a large main pool with a lap lane and section exclusively for adults featuring an entrance ramp for seniors and the disabled, a baby pool and a diving tank. The grounds are dotted with numerous umbrella-topped tables and chairs, and beautiful oak trees provide areas of shade.

Last year, pool management sent surveys to all members, and it’s apparent they listened to the public’s concerns. The lifeguards and check-in staff are friendly and professional. Also, the main pool’s complete resurfacing of the bottom and regular skimming to remove leaves has added significantly to improved water temperature and quality.

A bonus for families is the “Rec Shelter,” a supervised area for kids to play with an assortment of crafts and games, including a ping-pong table and whiffle ball equipment. Some days my son Paul spends more time at the Rec Shelter than in the pool.

Paul nags me constantly to take off for the pool. At 10-years-old, he is just the right age to enjoy all that Ginny Duenkel has to offer. He alternates from pick-up ball games at the shelter to twisting jumps off the diving board to playing “Sharks & Minnows” with his friends in the deep end of the main pool — oh, and I almost forgot about the cheese fries at the snack bar.

No matter the day or time, Paul manages to find friends to hang with — either from school or church, PAL or travel baseball, and sometimes even old teammates from his MTL and travel soccer days — kids looking to connect and have a good time.

As for me, at some point I slip into the lap lane for 20 to 30 minutes of low-impact, no-sweat exercise. Then I either retreat to a shady table and pull out my book or run into someone I know and strike up a conversation. This is my time to chill.

It seems just yesterday that I spent every moment at the pool getting up and down and moving back and forth between the baby and main pool areas, keeping a close eye on my three small children. Now I watch other moms and dads do all that chasing with a bit of wistfulness, but mostly with a sigh of relief.

I also hold vivid memories of coming to the pool as a kid myself. The towels of teens and junior-highers laid end-to-end on the grass near the deep end of the main pool and diving tank. There were two low boards and a “high dive” back then, and crowds of kids — primarily boys — would line up to make the 10-foot jump.

Attendance at the pool seems stronger this summer. With the predominantly sunny weather, I’ve gone more often and suspect it’s been the case with other residents, too. But even on the hottest days, the crowds at Ginny Duenkel have not been overwhelming.

If you haven’t signed up as a member, it’s not too late to enjoy the pool this year.  The town is offering a discounted “Tail Ender” membership that starts August 1 and lasts for five weeks. Also, the annual Family Sports & Game Night takes place this Friday, July 29, at 7 p.m., and you don’t need to be a member to attend.  For more information, check the West Orange Town Recreation webpage or contact them directly at recreation@westorange.org or (973) 325-4150.

I’ve found the only vexing part of the pool experience is the difficult struggle to get my son out of the pool when it comes time to go home. If the pool staff can keep up the good work, that may be the only complaint of members this year.