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Zimmerlink looks to help owners of Shady Grove Park

By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink has asked local legislators to help find ways to open the pool at Shady Grove Park. New statewide safety requirements that are expected to affect more than 3,000 public pay pools have impacted the pool at Shady Grove.

The stipulation that one certified lifeguard be on site for every 4,000-square-foot section of pool means that park operators Jim and Antoinette Tesauro would have had to hire five lifeguards this season. This past weekend marked the closure of the pool because the Tesauros could not afford to hire the required staff of lifeguards.

Zimmerlink sent letters to state Rep. James Shaner (D-Dunbar), state Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar) and the North Union Township supervisors, asking for their help to keep the park “fully operable.”

“Shady Grove Park is a well-known tourist attraction and recreational facility in Fayette County, not to mention a community service oriented business,” Zimmerlink wrote. “Closing the pool, even though the remaining park will remain open, at least for a while, will have a negative effect on many.”

Contacted Thursday, Zimmerlink said she wanted to take whatever steps she felt were “necessary and appropriate” as a county commissioner to help the pool reopen. “There wasn’t much I could do when we learned of the closing of Anchor Glass in Connellsville of Houze Glass in Point Marion,” she said. “As a county commissioner, I wanted to step in and see what we can do for Shady Grove. I hate to see any business, whether large or small, leave Fayette County. It’s devastating for the employees and it has a ripple effect.”

In many cases, businesses close or leave the area because of financial problems, but in this case, the state regulations are to blame, she said.

“I think the state needs to take a look and see if these (regulations) are too restrictive,” Zimmerlink said. “This comes at a time when pools are getting ready to open and we need recreation in Fayette County.”

She also sent a letter to the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, asking the agency to offer any assistance it can.

“As the economic development leaders, I thought perhaps they might want to get involved,” she said. “I would think they would not want to see a business close.”

While the pool’s future is uncertain, the park will remain open on the weekends so visitors can still picnic at pavilions or play video games or pool in a refurbished game room.

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