The Kennett Y outdoor pool is no longer a swimming resource for its members and the public.

Y executive director Nic Legere explained in a written answer to member Linda Cangi’s query letter on the matter: “We feel that the best path forward is to continue down the path of operating the pool site as a summer camp and swim team destination.”

He added in his letter that he had considered many different operating models.

The pool was originally built during the late 1960s as a community pool in Kennett Square and was later leased to the Y for operations at $1 per year. It sits along South Walnut Street across from Kennett High School’s Legacy Fields.

When asked by the Chester County Press for an in-person response, Legere declined to answer questions, referring all inquiries to YMCA of Greater Brandywine vice president of marketing Jenny James Lee.

Lee reiterated the points made by Legere in his letter to Cangi – a letter which he copied to Linda’s son, Mike Cangi, and to community activist Nick Perigo.

Lee said the main reasons for the closing the pool to membership and public pass use is that the physical complex is in a flood plain, and that there is difficulty finding staff – including lifeguards.

An additional reason she gave was declining membership and usage at the outdoor pool in the past few years.

She said the pool will not sit idle this summer, however.

Lee mentioned the coming use by a federally funded camping partnership with the Kennett Consolidated School District at Bancroft Elementary School, which the Y will run. Those campers whose parents choose to bring them will be offered “Fabulous Fridays” swimming at the outdoor Kennett Y pool.

Children enrolled in the Y summer camp will use the pool daily for free swimming as well.

The Kennett Jennersville Area Sea Turtles offer year-round competitive swimming for youngsters ages 5 to 19, including a winter season, academy and summer season. Swim teams typically have had practices in the mornings during the summer season.

Addressing the problem of the flood plain, Lee explained that the Red Clay Creek runs within feet of the three-pool complex. If the creek floods into the pools, the Y must close them, drain them and clean out the mud over a period of days. It becomes an expensive risk, as members ask to be reimbursed for lost swim time, she said.

As for diminishing membership and use, Lee added that the need to hire lifeguards and attract swim members has become more difficult since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it has for many businesses nationwide.

Lee wrote, “Last year (2022), the Kennett outdoor pool was available on weekends and on Memorial Day and Labor Day for a total of 29 days. YMCA member usage hit an all-time low with an average of just 20 – 30 people using the pool each day. Community day passes were available and throughout the summer the average number of passes sold per day was 2.3.”

Where can Kennett area folks swim now when the weather turns hot? Kennett Y members have historically had the option to purchase a summer swimming membership at an economical cost. Now, if they want to swim within their moderate income, they may use their Y swimming pool membership to visit pools in the Y’s at Jennersville, West Chester, Brandywine and Upper Main Line. The closest Y is at Jennersville, which is 11 miles away.

Mike Cangi, 34, and the son of letter-writer Linda Cangi, is the father of three children. He grew up in Kennett Square and lives in the borough. He said he swam in the pool as a youth. He is disappointed now that the only way his children can swim locally during the summer is to enroll in Y camp at $358 a week. What bothers him even more is that he cannot swim with them for any cost.

He took issue with the reasons offered for the cutback in operations, especially the difficulty in getting lifeguards.

“The other local pools – Greenwood (which has a waiting list) and Kennett Country Club – have lifeguards and they have not closed. And they haven’t closed down the seashore beaches either,” he said.

Mike Cangi said that with this move, the Y has turned its back on its historic national mission, which is published to be “[T]o put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy mind, body and spirit for all. Together, we are strengthening our community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”

He also questioned the rationale for citing the need to reimburse folks who had to stay home on days the pool was being cleaned of mud from flooding.

“They don’t ask for money back at the golf course if you can’t play when it rains,” he said.

He also questioned how the pool can be open to summer camp and swimming team participants, but not to Y members and the public, with the same problems still existing.

When asked about the frequency of Red Clay Creek flooding, Brandywine Red Clay Alliance executive director Jim Jordan said there was one “minor” overflow in 2021, but it was not considered a flood. The last major flood before that was in 2005, which engulfed a large portion of the south end of town.

Kennett Square Borough Council may also get involved in the dialogue. Council president Doug Doerfler said the council is tentatively planning to schedule a meeting with Legere.

Mike Cangi said he has offered conducting a membership and support campaign to help solve the problems of declining use, but was rebuffed by Legere.  

Lee said, “These are problems that money can’t solve.”

Perigo, who said he is outraged by the Y’s action, said more creative programming could possibly attract attendance.

“Bring back special family events like ‘Hawaiian Night’ at the pool,” he said.  

He noted that there was a heartening and positive response to The Creamery’s food and entertainment center (which is also in the flood plain) when the ice-skating rink was creatively opened this year.

Will there be a future return to the previous plan and open up the pool to members and the public at a reasonable fee?

Legere wrote, “[W]e will continue to evaluate our options and make changes when needed and feasible.”