| Author | Message | ||
     Newneighbor Citizen Username: Newneighbor Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2003 |
Considering joining the Maplewood Pool but don't know much about it. Is the pool nice and worth it to join? We do not have kids so we would be using it more for lap swimming, etc. Is it clean, etc.? Do Irvington residents use it too or only Maplewood? | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 471 Registered: 6-2001 |
Pool membership is open to Maplewood residents only (and their guests, subject to the guest policy). It's a very nice pool, pretty kid oriented, but if you are morning people, there is a commuter swim that is laps only, from 6:30 to 7:30 I think. There are also designated adult swims (no kids in the main pool) for about 20 minutes of every hour during most of the day and there are 2 dedicated lap lanes--though sometimes they get crowded and they are in the middle of the main pool so sometimes there are problems with kids crossing over. It does tend to get a bit quieter towards the end of the day--except during major heat waves--and generally seems to quiet a bit as the summer goes on, after a wild busy burst at the start of the season. I know folks who love their after work laps. | ||
| us2innj Citizen Username: Us2innj Post Number: 580 Registered: 5-2001 |
Nice pool, nice people, moderately clear water, crappy concession stand! Any idea who is the shop-keep of the pepto-burgers this year? | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2002 |
What if Irvington residents were allowed to use it? Would you still join? Please explain. | ||
| Newneighbor Citizen Username: Newneighbor Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2003 |
Relax luv2cruise. I was thinking b/c it was on the Maplewood/Irvington line that they shared it and that would twice the number of members crowding a pool. Ever try lap swimming when not everyone can fit? Not fun. But thanks for your commentary as it was useful. | ||
| us2innj Citizen Username: Us2innj Post Number: 581 Registered: 5-2001 |
Man, talk about jumping down someones throat. | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'm very relaxed....thank you for explaining your reasoning. I don't go to the pool to do lap swimming. I go just to cool off and sit with the girls and eat bon bons  | ||
| barleyrooty Citizen Username: Barleyrooty Post Number: 557 Registered: 5-2001  |
I've never had a problem finding space to swim laps. The diving pool is available and clear most of the time and gets used for that. The kids use half of it with the low boards, but their landing zone is roped off and they're well behaved. Then there's also adult time as already mentioned. | ||
| redY67 Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 14 Registered: 2-2003 |
Just curious, anyone ever have a problem with all the rules they have for kids? NO going near the rocks, NO floatation devices NO strollers in this area etc.? | ||
| Chris Dickson Citizen Username: Ironman Post Number: 483 Registered: 8-2001  |
Without rules that pool would be total chaos ... Long live the RULES! | ||
| redY67 Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 16 Registered: 2-2003 |
I agree to a certain extent. (sorry to soapbox) My problem is when I go with my kids it is NO, NO, NO, NO, by the lifeguards, and I don't feel like I can relax. Last year within one hour, I was told NO, so many times we left. It is over trivial things. I understand, no running, no diving in the shallow end, no diapers in the big pool; I think they are going overboard, there needs to be a nice balance. I am curious Chris if you have younger kids; maybe it doesn't affect you as much, or maybe I am overreacting! | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 721 Registered: 5-2001 |
Of course lots of people have problems with the rules, but on balance find the total experience worth it anyway. We've never encountered the rocks issue though ... I guess my kids never went there. My main gripe with the rules is not that they exist, but that they are not all written down together in any one document that is provided to members. SOME of them are in materials that are SOMETIMES sent with the renewal, but many of them are only learned by having the whistle blown on you and that is humiliating and distressing at times. Given that some (many?) of those rules are not standard at all swimming establishments (such as no jumping off the side, no sitting on the edge in many places, no flotation devices, etc.), I think that the pool committee should do us all a favor and send a complete list so that we can study them and instruct our kids, etc. Then, whether or not we agree with them, it is perfectly legitimate for the lifeguards to call us out when we violate them. | ||
| crazyguggenheim Citizen Username: Crazyguggenheim Post Number: 314 Registered: 2-2002  |
Call me crazy, but are women allowed to breast feed there?  Call me crazy | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 722 Registered: 5-2001 |
Yes they are. The breastfeeding issue reared up in 1994, I believe, and was resolved that year. I nursed my younger child there frequently during the (very hot) summer of 1995 with no problem and I've never heard of any problems in that regard since then. Since that time, I believe that laws have been passed or strengthened protecting the rights of women to nurse their children in public, so I think that any rules against it would be invalid at this point. | ||
| Maplewoody Citizen Username: Maplewoody Post Number: 199 Registered: 5-2001 |
redY67.... What the heck were you and the little ones up to to have recieved that NO that made you leave? Just curious! Some people don't know how to behave when in public! I wish certain people (with bratty, un-disciplined & mis-behaved kids)wouldn't come to the pool! It would be a much more peaceful and enjoyable experience!    | ||
| redY67 Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 17 Registered: 2-2003 |
maplewoody--love the pool jumpy!! My son who was barely a year was yelled at for EVERYTHING. He walked over to the rocks, and before he even bent down the lifegaurd was saying NO get away! Next my friend's son was walking down the steps and the lifegaurd yelled at him because he was too slow. We didn't know the rule about no toys in the training pool, got yelled at about that. Then my son was running (if you can call it that) and got yelled at for that. It just seemed one no after another. I honestly can't remember everything; except it was very trivial. I felt most of the rules were made by older adults with no kids. It didn't seem that they let the kids be kids at the pool. I completely agree we need rules, but it was just too much. I like the idea of them sending out the rules to everyone so we can instruct our kids. Great idea!! I also agree un-disciplined misbehaving kids need not attend! | ||
| Chris Dickson Citizen Username: Ironman Post Number: 485 Registered: 8-2001 |
Redy67: I have an eight-year old and a four-year old. We have belonged to the pool for eight years ... LONG LIVE THE RULES! | ||
| ats3 Citizen Username: Ats3 Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have been a member of the pool for 34 years. If you think the rules are strict now, you should have been there years ago with ice cream eating only on the lower grass area, bath caps if your hair was shoulder length or longer, and no early baby pool swims. Although the rules are not as strict, they are needed. I think there is a difference between being yelled at or asked to follow the rules. I find the guards quite friendly and kind to all. As for the rules, I think the parents must realize if you are at the pool with children, it is hardly time to relax. We, as parents are fully responsible for our children at all times at the pool. The life guards are not there to babysit. Parents need to realize that they can't sit and chat with friend while their children wonder the pool areas. With three children under five, I was quite busy watching my children with little time to sit and relax. My husband had to come with us if I was to get quiet time. So with that said, I think the pool, the rules and the lifeguards are great. Can't wait until summer!  | ||
| redY67 Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2003 |
ats3-- I think you misunderstood my comment. I didn't mean, relax as in sunbathing, I meant relax and enjoy my time with my children. I love watching them play in the pool and laugh and have fun. Of course the lifeguards are not there to babysit. That is not at all what I was saying. I was saying that they don't let the kids have fun. No toys etc. I had one friend who's child got in trouble throwing a ball!! Again, it just seems to me that the rules are made for the adults, not the kids. I absolutely agree it is the parents responsibilty to watch their children, and follow the rules. I think they need to be reevaluated as Maplewood seems to be booming with a lot of new children! | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 38 Registered: 12-2002 |
Why would someone want balls flying all around? Do you think the kids catch them all the time? I wouldn't want kids with toys in the pool. I do agree that they should have a separate area where kids could play with their toys, throw balls, etc. Something fenced in so that they couldn't get hurt. Also, don't you know that we all live in the town of "NO." Did you ever try to get a variance?  | ||
| barleyrooty Citizen Username: Barleyrooty Post Number: 563 Registered: 5-2001 |
If you think _we're_ in the town of no, check out the "How not to use the playground equipment" sign at Taylor Park in Millburn. It's hysterical. For example you're only allowed to slide sitting facing forward! Hahahahahaha The sad reality is that liability lawsuits have made this the country of no. (Ever seen the beauty of the Grand Canyon through the wire safety fence?) By comparison, I've never had any problems with the lifeguards at the pool. They only seem to be enforcing a somewhat reasonable set of rules in an atmosphere where a lot of older kids are going to be very prone to wild behavior. As a result I think the behavior stays under control to everyone's benefit. | ||
| sglima Citizen Username: Slima Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2002 |
Does anyone know if there is a shuttle to the pool? I have a nanny that doesn't drive and it's a bit of a walk from our house.  | ||
| The New CFA Citizen Username: Cfa Post Number: 867 Registered: 5-2001  |
Very cute picture!!!! We need more of them in a lot of other posts. Just looking at it makes me happy! | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 732 Registered: 5-2001 |
Re shuttle - none that I'm aware of. Sounds like a neat idea for off-hours use of the jitneys, though ... although I'm sure that there is something wrong with that idea (and sure that someone will point it out.) | ||
| irl Citizen Username: Irl Post Number: 38 Registered: 6-2001 |
Can anyone tell me anything about the swim lessons at the pool? I have two non-swimmers (ages 5&7). Is there a kiddie pool where they can learn? How are the lessons for youngsters? How often are they? How good are they? Thanks! | ||
| grw Citizen Username: Grw Post Number: 124 Registered: 12-2002 |
irl The lessons are great and free The pool is great, kiddie pool, training pool (4 feet), main pool, diving tank Call the rec dept, they will send you all the info | ||
| irl Citizen Username: Irl Post Number: 39 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thanks, GRW, I call the rec dept. They said they didn't have the particulars available yet. But I'll take it on your recommendation. |
