SLIGO, Pa. (EYT) — The sun wasn’t the only thing shining down on the Union COG Pool Park Family Fun Day.
(Pictured above: Clarview Administrator Scott Jordan, Heather and Misty Marsh (pool manager and assistant manager), and Chuck Marsh.)
The park was packed with area residents for a pool that wasn’t quite sure it would open earlier in the year. The good weather was welcome, but so were the many volunteers that helped ready the facility for another strong year.
Family Fun Day is sponsored each year by Clarion County’s Promise, and the day features games, activities, raffle prizes, lunch, and swimming.
Also welcome was a $2,500.00 donation from the Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to help the pool.
“On behalf of the Clarview Nursing and Rehab Center and our board of directors, we want to present a check for $2,500.00 to the COG for the pool repair costs,” as he gave a check to Chuck Marsh, COG President and Sligo Borough Council Vice President. “It’s awesome to be able to give back to the community.”
Marsh said the donation would be a big help.
“I’d really like to give you our appreciation,” said Marsh. “This is going to help so much with all of the maintenances we’ve had to do. We have some credit lined up that we have to pay off. This will really help, and I’m thankful to the organization like yours for wanting to contribute to the facility.”
There was even some doubt at the start of the year if the popular pool would even open because of needed repairs, and there was no one interested in being manager. Two sister-in-laws, Heather and Mind Marsh, stepped up, and their families also helped with the needed repairs.
Manager Heather and sister-in-law Misty Marsh, their husbands, and six children between them quickly recruited other volunteers for support in getting the pool ready to open.
“It was quite an undertaking, and I know Heather and Misty and their families worked hard — not now not just now but three weeks before the pool even opened,” said Chuck. “They prepped everything, and I have to commend them on that.”
Other organization donated to the pool park, including a $1,000.00 gift from the Rimersburg VFW. The VFW gave the money to rehab park restrooms.
“We repainted and put all new ceilings in and new doors and locks. They’re in good shape now. We really appreciate anyone that donates. Large checks like this really make a difference.”
The pre-season work touched nearly ever part of the pool park.
“We had to put new hot water tanks in, all of the restrooms need to various types of replacements, and there were some that were cracked. We have to put a new roof on the restrooms in the park and that type of thing. The kitchen had to be completely repainted and new appliances were put in the kitchen.”
The five-acre park is always looking for ways to improve the operation.
“We want to put in a nature walk similar to other organizations, and that gives the elderly something to do while kids are playing on the playground or are swimming,” said Chuck. “It would give anyone who rents a pavilion something else to do. We can do that fairy inexpensively.”
Painting of the pool and park facilities is always on the list of things to do.
The COG pool park also keeps its eye on the bottom line, with operations costing about $40,000.00 a year. Many community pools have closed over the years because of increasing costs and meeting environmental standards, but the Sligo pool continues to make things work.
In 1976, the Clarion County boroughs of Sligo, Rimersburg, and East Brady, along with the townships of Madison, Toby, and Piney, joined together to form the Union Council of Governments. The group’s goal was to “retain and strengthen our local governments while combining our local resources for regional challenges.”
Members have come and gone over the years, but current members include Sligo Borough, Rimersburg Borough, and Monroe Township. Residents of the member municipalities pay a reduced rate for daily admission or season tickets for the COG pool.
