By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
The number of slides and a new water system and other features crucial to the makeup of Princeton’s future Community Park Pool complex were topics during a public discussion held Tuesday.
About 30 residents were in attendance, plus employees from the CMX consulting firm, Recreation Department Executive Director Jack Roberts, and other recreation officials.
Mr. Roberts said that however the pool plan evolved, the new facility would have to boast new plumbing and a refurbished concrete surface. Both features at the current facility, which was built in 1967, are outdated. The water system is not even up to modern standards, according to Mr. Roberts.
”There are basic issues that we need to take care of, no matter what we do,” Mr. Roberts said.
At several points during the meeting residents turned the discussion to the number of slides at the pool, including Birch Avenue resident Chris Knigge. Mr. Knigge supported building as few slides and other entertainment features as possible, preferring a focus on a pool similar to the existing facility.
Equipment like slides would lead to aggressive and physical play, and “roughhousing,” he said.
Ronald Berlin, a local architect and Jefferson Road resident, also called for a minimum number of slides and “trendy things.” He said such a decision would allow the children to devise their own pool entertainment.
”They’re inventing their own fun,” which is good, Mr. Berlin said.
Tom Zucosky, a member of the recreation board, took the opposite position when it came to slides.
”Sometimes the only thing (kids) want to do (at the pool) is get on a slide,” said Mr. Zucosky. “They’re not here to express that opinion.”
Mr. Roberts said it was clear that residents were dedicated to maintaining the current “ambience of the pool, in a park setting, and they are concerned about changing that ambience.”
Heeding such concerns and making the facility reflect the old pool meant “we’re probably a good ways away from having a lot of paraphernalia in the pool,” Mr. Roberts said.
It is also clear that the new pool would be focus on sustainable features, including the possibility of using some solar powered equipment and establishing a focus on reduced electricity consumption, according to Mr. Roberts.
”It makes sense in economic terms for us and for showing off this community as a leader,” said Mr. Roberts.
He said the next step is for township employees and consultants to use community feedback to create rudimentary concept plans. Those plans could be presented at some point early next year, according to township officials, who said the plans will allow the issue of cost to enter the ’discussion.
Mr. Roberts has said he hopes to have finished concept plans sometime in March.

