Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
| By Erin O'Connor Staff Writer WEST SPRINGFIELD A public hearing was held on Aug. 22 at 7p.m. with the Conservation Commission regarding a Notice of Intent by Domenic G. Longo Jr. of the city Parks and Recreational Department, for renovations to the swimming pool, bathhouse and associated site improvements at 51 Symnra Street. "We haven't opened the pool in two years," Longo said to Reminder Publications. Longo said that the bid specifications for the site will be available on Sept. 1. "We are going to be renovating the pool area and the bath house and we are going to the conservation commission due to wetlands in the area," Longo said. "I think this is a great improvement to what is there and it will be a great improvement for the town. I don't see anything wrong with it," said Karen Leigh of the Conservation Commission. Leigh stated that the area that pool sits on currently houses large amounts of impervious surface. "An impervious surface is like a parking lot," Leigh said, "in that rain goes in the same direction when it rains and collects with it waters and oils." Leigh said that the construction plans by the Park and Rec Department are geared at eliminating impervious surfaces. A meeting was held last August in 2005 in that the Parks and Recreation Department met with the conservation commission to receive permits that were then granted. "Last year they [Parks and Rec] filed a request for determination. The project became large enough in scope that the first one (meeting) would not be appropriate. Now a notice of intent for permits must be filed," said Leigh in speaking of the purpose of Tuesday nights meeting. "I don't see any initial problems but the Department of Environmental Protection must review the plans next," Leigh said. Longo is hoping that plans could result in the pool being reopened in the city as early as next spring but nothing is definite at this time. |