THE CITY SAYS THREE POOLS WILL NOT OPEN THIS SUMMER, MAINLY FOR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS. ONE OF THOSE POOLS IS THIS POOL HERE IN HOMEWOOD AND A SIGN ON THE FENCE SAYS IT’S FOR RENOVATIONS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POOL AND BATHHOUSE. AS WELL AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND A PLAYGROUND. BUT FOR RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TWO OTHERS, AN EMPTY POOL IS A BIG LOSS. I JUST FEEL LIKE EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE POOL IN THE SUMMER. FOR 15 YEAR OLD JAHEIM JEFFRIES, THAT MEANS A PLACE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FOR KIDS TO COOL OFF AND FAMILIES TO GATHER. BUT THE GATES WILL REMAIN LOCKED AND THE POOLS CLOSED ALL SUMMER IN HOMEWOOD AND SHERADEN FOR RENOVATIONS AND IN BLOOMFIELD FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. WE’RE A COMMUNITY WITH ABOUT $35,000 A YEAR MEDIAN INCOME IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD. SO THAT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS SERVICES IN OTHER PLACES. RITA PORTERFIELD HAS LIVED HER WHOLE LIFE IN BLOOMFIELD, AND SHE SAYS THE CLOSURE IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT, IT CREATES A CHALLENGE FOR FAMILIES WHO CAN’T EASILY GET TO THE NEXT CLOSEST OPEN POOL, SUCH AS WEST PENN IN POLISH HILL. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT EVERY YEAR FOR SOMETHING WE KNOW BEST SERVES STRATEGICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS. PORTERFIELD SAYS THE CLOSURE IS FRUSTRATING. THE CITY SAYS IT’S NECESSARY, ADDING THAT WHILE BLOOMFIELD, SHERADEN AND HOMEWOOD WILL NOT OPEN, 15 WILL, INCLUDING SCHENLEY, HIGHLAND, SUE MURRAY AND BANKSVILLE. SOME, THOUGH, WILL HAVE LIMITED HOURS. OTHERS WILL ONLY OPEN DURING THE WEEK. AND MANY PROGRAMS SUCH AS SWIM CLASSES, WILL NOT BE OFFERED. THE CITY SAYS STAFFING PLAYS A ROLE THERE. THEY SAY 145 OF 155 LIFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE. BUT TO OPERATE ADJUSTMENTS WERE NEEDED FOR A FULL LIST OF THE POOLS OPENING THIS WEEKEND, AS WELL AS HOURS AND OFFERINGS, GO TO WTAE DOT COM IN HOMEWOOD. MA