As a general rule, most venues such as municipal pools aren’t set up as money markers. Rather, they’re set up as a public service subsidized by tax dollars.

 

Of course, the City of Bridgeport’s public pool still tries to have years where they make a little money, break even or even don’t have to need much subsidy to be successful. Thanks to Mother Nature, 2015 may be a losing proposition on the financial front and the public participation front.

 

“It’s been a pretty bad season to date,” said Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton. “We’ve been closed a total of about five days and have closed early several other days. On top of that, even when we’ve been open the attendance is down. When you have low numbers, it hurts across the board because you don’t have people coming through the gate and your concessions suffer as a result. Overall, we've had really low numbers."

 

It goes without saying that a brutally wet spring and summer period to date has been the culprit. During a recent 30-day span, only one 24-hour period included a spell without rainfall. Many days have produced severe weather, while the continual threat of weather has kept many away from the pool.

 

“This is only our second time here this year. It’s not a terribly long drive, but the chance of bad weather has just been about everyday” said Claire North, who was bringing her grandkids to the pool to play in the ‘Sprayground’ and was leaving the Bridgeport Dairy Queen early Monday afternoon for the walk to the pool. “I can’t ever remember a summer like this. It's just been miserable.”

 

For Burton, whose job duties change largely this time of the year based on the weather, didn’t necessarily disagree with that.

 

“I’ve been here for 28 years and I can tell you this is probably one of the worst, if not the worst, summers we’ve had in a long time,” said Burton. “It’s difficult for everyone and you hate to close the pool because it may be threatening with bad weather one minute and sunny five minutes later.”

 

Burton said it’s also been tough on the staff of the pool, many of who m are high school or college-aged students. He said those youngsters depend on that money for summer fun, to pay bills and to help pay for college in many cases.

 

“There’s been a lot less hours for them,” said Burton. “We hope that between now and the time school starts that we’ll have better weather. I can tell you that this week doesn’t show a whole lot of promise as there being perfectly clear days.”

 

Burton said the pool will be open throughout the week through August 13. After that, which is the first day of school for 2015-16, a decision will be made to either shut the pool or to go to weekend hours only for several more weekends.

 

“We’ll be making that decision soon. We have to take into consideration those on our staff that have to return to school so that we have enough employees to make it safe for those coming to the pool,” said Burton. “Right now, I think everyone is more concerned with just having some nice weather for a few days.”