Buckley Pool Back Open
By: Stephen Bond
Updated: July 31, 2012
"We're open for business and guys...enjoy the pool!" It's been two weeks since a broken pump kept utican's from enjoying the summer tradition of swimming. But thanks to private citizens and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida counties Buckley Pool is back open. For lifetime Utica resident Karen Retamar having the pool open again is special tradition she now shares with her grandsons.
Retamar says, "Oh it's wonderful! Thank God for all the people that donated the money to open the pool again."
Her grandson Jadem Retamar says, "Because it's more room, it feels cool for hot days like today, it's the best pool in Utica."
Utica resident Vanessa Curzao says, "I'm glad that they opened it back up for people who don't have transportation, you know it's close you can walk down here and just relax with the kids and have a good time."
Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri says he's not surprised someone stepped up and helped out because Utica is a city that gives back.
The first term Mayor says, "What it does mean is that you have generations upon generations who have come here and their roots..what they have taken from this community and the great relationships that they've build over the years and they weren't going to let that go for some other generation and they stepped forward."
Utica resident Carmen Quiros says, "I used to come here when I was like 9 years old and I used to live in the projects and I loved it and now that I've been here this is the first time since I've been a little girl and it feels great."
Buckley Pool was only shut down for two weeks and during that time some in Utica were forced to use other city pools.
Debbie Cordero of Utica says, "Buckley Pool closed so we we're going to Addison Miller Pool for two weeks and we're very happy to be back here, it's a beautiful place and we're glad that the pool got fixed."
And thanks to generous donations hundreds of Utican's can once again enjoy a little bit of summertime fun.
