Syracuse, NY -- As temperatures have risen, the vast majority of those seeking relief at Syracuse city pools have kept their cool, city Parks Commissioner Patrick E. Driscoll said today. During the heat wave, city pools quickly reach the capacity set by local health and safety rules. This forces a “one out, one in” entry policy, Driscoll said. “People have...
Syracuse, NY -- As temperatures have risen, the vast majority of those seeking relief at Syracuse city pools have kept their cool, city Parks Commissioner Patrick E. Driscoll said today.
During the heat wave, city pools quickly reach the capacity set by local health and safety rules. This forces a “one out, one in” entry policy, Driscoll said.
“People have been very patient. They’ve understood,” he said.
“The unfortunate thing is people who bring other issues to the pool,” Driscoll said.
One such incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Schiller Park pool, when two girls began fighting in the pool area and continued the fight as a police officer attempted to break up the fight, Syracuse police Sgt. Tom Connellan said.
A girl was arrested after she punched the officer trying to separate them, Connellan said.
There were also some incidents Tuesday at other city pools where youths didn’t want to comply with directions from the pool staff, Driscoll said.
“Both the Syracuse Police Department and the life-guarding staff handled every situation very well,” Driscoll said.
During the heat wave, city pools are staying open until 8 p.m., an hour later than normal. That will continue today, but on Thursday pools will close at the normal hour, Driscoll said. The parks department may extend that later closing depending on the weather.
Security guards are also watching pools overnight to prevent people from slipping in for a dip after the pools close, Driscoll said.