>Yes Chlorine is a nasty chemical and the human body was not made to swim in it nor drink it. But there is another way..
My daughter has VERY sensitive skin and chlorine causes her face and heiney to break out to the point it causes the skin to crack and bleed. And as a pool owner and most importantly a parent this was a major problem/concern. So this year my wife had done excessive research and even gone to the reaches of spoking with Ed Begley Jr. who is not only an actor but an amazing eviromentalist, and he suggested a filtration system that utilizes almost NO chlorine. AND IMAGINE THIS…IT COST LESS THAN WHAT I WOULD SPEND ON CHLORINE FOR THE SEASON! It utilized cooper and natural minerals to maintain the proper water balance. It basically fills your pool with the same quality water of that as you would buy by the gallon at Whole Foods. Furthermore, this is the first summer that my daughter’s cheeks have not broken out to the point it bleeds. So please don’t be hung up on the Chlorine and chemical issue, as there are PLENTY of natural, cost effective and productive alternatives that really do work.
In regards to fecal matter in the water, no matter how you can justify that, it is straight up NOT GOOD for business in any way, shape or form. Sorry.
As for which side of the debate I stand; this is coming from a guy who spent summers swimming in lakes up in the Poconos and has no problem swimming in Graydon,and thus I can say I sincerely sit on the fence. However, I feel that safety should be the first issue here. As much as I feel the Graydon lifeguards do a GREAT job their Herculean efforts are greatly restricted by the fact that the body of water being watched over is not clear enough to see the bottom. I’m not saying that a clear pool will prevent a loss of life but I will go as far to say that it will make it easier for the good men and woman that are out there looking to keep that from happening much, much easier.
In no disrespect or malice, it just riddles me to see how ignorance or lack of knowledge of the facts is what seems to be controlling this debate. As for the aesthetics; let’s again look to the facts. The Village of Ridgewood is a beautiful place to live, it is well kept. I would hate to think that the powers that be would allow an eyesore to be put in the place of the current Graydon “pool”. Granted, those in power are politicians and God knows they have made some stupid moves as of late, but they live here too and don’t want to look at a “Theme Park” right next door to Village Hall and most importantly in their home town.
In closing, it is well understood that change can no doubt be a doubled edged sword, but when the sword is yielded by the hand of knowledge and fairness, it is safe to say that shall only be swung in the direction for positive change.
Respectfully,
Craig S. Hueneke