ROCKINGHAM — On this mid-June day, with an All-Star Little League game going on in the background, kids tumbled inside the inflatable bounce rooms set up on the basketball court. Smaller kids, under parental supervision, played in another area with swings, a roundabout, and teeter-totters.
The sounds of more than 100 happy children echoed around the new town pool, where a community came together to provide a venue for activities for kids and adults alike.
This past Saturday, June 18, was declared “Lefty Lopez Day” in honor of “the man with the dream,” and it was so proclaimed by Rockingham Selectboard Chair Tom MacPhee at the ceremonies to celebrate the opening of the new pool for the summer.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was responsible for earmarking $380,000 of federal money for the project, returned to Vermont for the pool's opening, which marks the completion of two of the three phases of the project.
“In 20 years, no one will remember anyone who was here at this grand occasion,” said Sanders, but for “the kids who grow up swimming and playing here each summer from now on,” it will be a different story.
Sanders noted that nothing is more important for a community than having a place where kids can get healthy exercise in a safe environment.
“Our kids are the most important part of community, and Lefty understands that,” Sanders said, saluting Lopez's singular dedication to seeing the renovation project through.
Brad Weeks of the Recreation Department and Administrative Assistant Kerry Bennett were also recognized for the many hours they have devoted over the past 10 years, as well as for their tenacity in sticking with the project even when its future looked bleak.
Dr. C. Edward Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, expressed support for the project back in 2000 at the kick-off ceremonies, saying at the time, “I think you have an obligation to enlarge the current recreation facility for the next generation. Once it's done, you're going to ask yourselves, 'Why didn't we do this sooner?'”
Indeed, Development Director Francis “Dutch” Walsh noted that a generation of children had grown up since then, “and perhaps some of you are here today.”
“As a multi-generational use facility, all ages can use it,” said Walsh.
Indeed, a Rockingham Senior Center representative, 86-year-old Doris Shattuck, joined the festivities with her grandson, Selectboard member Joshua Hearne, owner of PK's Pub in Bellows Falls.
Shattuck said that she had wanted a heated pool so she could use the pool more often, “but that got dropped along the way” due to funding.
“I'll just have to wait until the water warms up to go in,” she said with a smile, adding that it's something she's “really looking forward to.”
Harley Bynorth of Bellows Falls and his friend Reis Jones of Rockingham, both 11, thought the new pool was “great” when it opened officially at 1 p.m. for swimming.
“I like it a lot better,” Jones said from the water.
Jane Purdy of Bellows Falls brought her three children - 6-year-old Lucas, 9-year-old Max, and 12-year-old Jackson - up for an opening day swim.
“It's great to have this here. We just walk from home,” she said. She noted that her kids used the new recreation center building “all winter and they loved it.”
The last phase
Lopez said that now that Phases I and II of the Recreation Committee's plan for the center are complete, “we'll start on the last phase, Phase III,” which includes the open basketball courts.
“You know, basketball is a winter sport,” said Lopez. “We had a lot of shoveling to do this last winter [to keep the courts open].”
He said that he would be discussing whether or not to cover both the basketball courts, “because, you know, in the summer, it's nice to play outside,” pointing at the dozen or so kids of all ages shooting hoops before him.
Lopez figures that it will take five years to complete the final phase, “but you never know. It could be sooner.”
He noted that the support of the community in volunteer and paid hours, the donations of work and materials, and the anonymous donors “who came along just at the right moment” were phenomenal, and that combined support made the project come together.
He hopes that the community spirit continues, “for the kids' sake.”
“It's all about the kids,” he said.
“In my view, this was money well spent,” Sanders said. “Kids are going to grow up strong and healthy because of this place. Congratulations to Rockingham on a job very well done.”