DUMPSTER SWIMMING POOLS FOR RED BANK?
A Macro-Sea Dumpster pool under construction in 2009. (Photo courtesy of Macro-Sea. Click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Sharon Lee wants to bring Dumpster diving to a whole new level a cleaner, cooler level.
And she wants to bring it to Red Bank.
The third-term councilwoman, ripping a page from a two-year-old New York Times article on Dumpsters that were converted to public pools in Brooklyn, suggested to her counterparts on the dais that Red Bank, after the general pant-and-gasp brought on by last week’s heatwave, think outside the box by going inside the box.
“I do think it’s something everyone should look at at,” Lee said. “It’s just another way to utilize something that might otherwise be wasted.”
The idea is fairly simple: take a clean Dumpster, install a liner, fill it with water and open it up to the public. Rinse and repeat.
In Brooklyn, the bins have been set up in streets and secret spots for parties, the Times reported.
It worked in there, Lee said, and it could work here.
‘When I think of those 100-degree days and no respite,” she said, “this is another thing to consider.”
Across the river, Lee says Dumpsters that are water-ready, from New York company Macro-Sea, are being auctioned off. And while she doesn’t hold any illusions that Red Bank might be in serious bidding for the bins or their platforms and related equipment the idea is certainly one to consider. After all, Dumpsters are everywhere, and so are dip-deprived people.
It would come, of course, with drawbacks. A lifeguard would have to be stationed at each makeshift pool, Administrator Stanley Sickels said, and the pools would have to be covered by liability insurance. There also may be state Department of Environmental Protection rules for water testing, he said.
Lee raised the idea, along with others opening up a fire hydrant for a quick blast of cool water, for one after watching residents wilt and run for air-conditioned breaks from the oppressive heat last week.
Her colleagues on the governing body did not laugh Lee out of the council chambers.
“We’ll look at it,” Mayor Pasquale Menna said.
As for Lee’s idea of wrenching open hydrants for a spurt of relief, “that’s something we can definitely look into,” Sickels said.
Menna said despite the intense temps, the borough and its emergency service crews received a small number of calls related to heat stress. Sickels said firehouses were opened for residents to take a break and cool off as well.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 11:03:41
Sharon Lee treats most Red Bank residents like garbage anyway. Apparently that’s becoming literal now.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 11:07:21
Turning on the fire hydrants? Dumpster pools? How about? If you’re hot, enjoy cooling off in the Red Bank library where you can read a book? Go to the movies? Run through the sprinkler on your front lawn.
Aren’t dumpsters made of metal? I wonder how long they take to heat up, about 30 seconds? What a disgusting idea. I don’t even want to think about the sanitary ramifications.
& opening fire hydrants? I’ll let the fire dept. chime in on that one.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 11:17:56
There’s always this..
https://ragdolling.posterous.com/river-street-swimming-hole
Aug 01, 2011 @ 11:52:58
We live by a river and this is the best idea we can come up with?
Is it a possibility to have an artificial beach/waterfront at the end of River St?
Aug 01, 2011 @ 13:17:22
While we’re thinking creatively..When I was in Australia I spent a lot of time in the insanely cool salt water lap pools they have at many of the beaches there. They’re basically just walled off pools that fill naturally with the tide. Some are big, some are glorified kiddie pools. I’ve often wondered why we don’t have these in the US.
check it out.
https://tinyurl.com/3hzf8cs
https://tinyurl.com/3wvwqkl
Aug 01, 2011 @ 13:19:37
Think that first link is bogus. Try again..
https://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/salt-water-baths-sydney-70
6161
Aug 01, 2011 @ 15:57:08
NO to the YMCA!!! NO to the community garden!!! YES to dumpsters filled with water. Ya can’t make this stuff up.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 16:35:35
Jeff…. Good one!!!
Aug 01, 2011 @ 16:40:51
Red Bank is surrounded by more water than land. If the water is safe enough for the Triathlon swimmers, why can’t Red Bank just rope off a section of the river for kids to swim in? Maple Cove, the 94 Front Street lot are lots with a beach. Why does RB think that spending money is always the answer. Use what ya got and keep it simple!
Aug 01, 2011 @ 17:05:54
I just recieved my water bill, so I know the water’s not free…how about the electricity to run the pumps and filters needed to make these dumpsters safe for kids to swim? Not to mention the chlorine and other chemicals needed for swimming dumpsters…oops I ment pools.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 18:35:59
The river is filled with jellyfish from mid July on. I grew up in Chicago and we used to go under the fire hydrants. Saturday, I was in the Bronx and they had a fire hydrant spraying. Maybe the containers as pools is a little out there but I think Sharon Lee has the kids’ interest in her heart. Most kids don’t kayak or care about a community garden they just want to get wet in the summer.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 19:24:04
Pat:
Can you fill me in on when Councilwoman Lee has treated residents like garbage?
If you win the County Freeholder seat she’ll probably be a colleague.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 21:28:26
Instead of Red Bank going for a matching grant from the county for more water access, because we have Maple Cove, maybe a grant to make a sprinkler park in Count Basie Park?
Aug 01, 2011 @ 21:28:56
Interesting idea but its seems like it’s more for private parties. Too small.
I would rather see an in-ground public pool built for RB residents or more pools at the YMCA ( which was part of their expansion plan). Long Branch has a lovely spray park for its younger kids which is also an option.
Aug 01, 2011 @ 21:56:32
Wow this is dumb
Aug 01, 2011 @ 22:05:00
I think if the town really wants to pursue something along these lines, the sprinkler park is the best idea presented here, as far as the insurance/water usage concerns go, and would also be more appealing to the general public than a dumpster pool. I mean, really. A Dumpster. Pool. Yikes.
Aug 02, 2011 @ 07:14:21
It may be possible to re-cycle the pond water from Basie Park for a sprinkler park and let me also say that in Rumson’s Victory Park, kids are swimming in the river with no problem.
While all this talk about pools, sprinkler parks and RB applying for a matching county grant up to $500,000.00 to create another water access site on Locust,is good, why doesn’t this RB governing body focus on maintaining the parks it already has? I am appalled by the condition of Marine Park. Two summers, not one bench in the park. People put out $1700 for a bench over a year ago. No grass. Last year I had to complain to DPW that adults and children were tripping over the netting that was put down by the construction co. to grow grass that never came up. Not enough garbage cans and here’s what really set me off. In an effort to make Marine Park look somewhat loved and cared for by planting & cleaning around the flag pole, I heard a mother with 5 kids, tell them to pee in the bushes. This is unacceptable! Put a port o pottie down at Marine Park. It is totally irresponsable of RB, considering the amount of people that come into Marine Park to crab and walk, not to have a bathroom! Councilwoman Lewis & Lee…. your parks & rec, do something.
Aug 02, 2011 @ 10:19:32
Cindy- Let’s be honest here. The only way any kind of bathroom is going to be put in Marine Park is if the Borough Council can charge by the minute. After all, everything has to make money!
Aug 02, 2011 @ 13:45:18
Pat, I read your comments all the time and Im very impressed with your common sense. You always were a smart kid. I’m sorry I’m not a socialist and its not likely that I’ll ever be convinced to become one, but who knows :). This whole idea of dumpster pools is just ludicrous. Gotta agree with you, Cindy and Jeff on this one.