Selectman Walter J. Dempsey Urges District 9 Residents to Lobby for Proposed Outdoor Pool-October 27, 1981

Defeated Survey Motion Prompts Call to Action from Walter J. Dempsey

Following a narrow 3–2 vote by the Board of Selectmen rejecting a $50 survey to poll residents, Selectman Walter J. Dempsey is calling on the public to rally behind his proposal for an outdoor swimming pool in District 9. “Nothing can be done unless somebody comes forward,” Dempsey stated last night. “I honestly believe the people over there desire it.”

Opposing selectmen argued that Norwood already maintains two outdoor pools and does not require a third. However, Dempsey countered that an outdoor pool is the only practical, budget-conscious alternative to constructing an expensive indoor pool as part of a new civic recreational center.

Voters decisively rejected the indoor pool concept during two nonbinding referendums and the October 1 Special Town Meeting, where critics attacked the projected $2.2 million cost to build the facility at the former Aaron Guild Elementary School. “There’s no question in my mind that the people do not want to pay $2 million for a recreational pool,” Dempsey said, noting that an outdoor facility would require a much smaller financial commitment and could potentially be designed on a compact scale.

District 9 Isolation and Alternative Municipal Facilities

Dempsey highlighted the unique geographical isolation of District 9, pointing out that Route 1 cuts directly through the neighborhood. “When kids go to the pool, somebody has to drive them,” he explained. “Route 1 is a dangerous division between two sections of town.” To ease fairness concerns among taxpayers in other neighborhoods, Dempsey added, “In all fairness, if you had yours, it would be difficult to fight somebody who wants theirs. It would be extremely unfair.”

The selectman originally hoped to attach an outdoor pool to the Prescott School in District 9 to qualify for state matching grants covering up to 50 percent of construction costs. However, he acknowledged that securing school department backing is unlikely while teachers face layoffs, and noted that the school committee is evaluating potential junior high school closures due to declining enrollment.

With the old civic center property sold last year to Norwood Hospital—and its former ballfields successfully replaced by the newly completed Eliott Field in South Norwood—Dempsey believes utilizing existing spaces like the Guild School’s gymnasium, auditorium, and classrooms can effectively fulfill community needs without erecting a costly new civic building. Selectmen are currently reviewing six alternative sites for a civic facility.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger