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88-Year-Old Westchester County Pool On The Chopping Block

RYE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Westchester County pool that opened in 1929 is on the chopping block.

CBS2's Lou Young reported the county is considering a proposal to level the public pool at Playland Park.

The 88-year-old pool is in need of millions in renovations and could be nearing its end despite attracting a small, but dedicated, clientele.

"I'm 54 years old and I've been coming here since I was a teenager," Victor Vargas of Fordham said.

"Fully enjoyable; it's not crowded," said Jose Santiago of Yonkers.

The lack of crowds is what makes the pool so attractive to people who like coming to it. But it is also is the reason the county is thinking about closing it.

At 20,000 to 27,000 visits per season, the county reasons that there are not quite enough paying to justify fixing and keeping it open.

"You want to use every square inch to the maximum potential, and there's an idea there that it'd be a great place to put restaurants; to put a catering facility, and all sorts of amenities because it's got a great view," said Westchester County spokesman Ned McCormick.

Dennis Pilla, the mayor of nearby Port Chester, scoffed at that idea.

"To make it a restaurant? Really?" Pilla said.

Pilla said closing the county pool in Rye would hurt Westchester's urban poor, especially the kids.

"Right now, they can ride their bikes or take the 13 bus," Pilla said. "To go to another pool in the county system, it's at least a two-seat bus ride.

It will cost the county more than $2 million to level the pool and more than $8 million to fix it, according to some estimates. Some suggest it's the problem with trying to make public parks pay for themselves.

"They don't want a public pool because they want to make a profit and pools don't make a profit," Diedre Curran of Friends of Playland said.

The county legislature will decide in a matter of weeks what to do with the pool.

The Rye Playland Pool remains open to the public as admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids and $3 for seniors. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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