NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Splashing and squealing signaled the reopening of the pool Thursday at the former YMCA after nearly two dry years.

 

Now dubbed the North Adams Recreation Center, the building attached to Brayton Elementary School has been scrubbed clean and opened last month for some activities. 

 

But the crown jewel, the pool, had to wait until the city could hire lifeguards. 

 

Sonia DiSanti, who learned to swim at the old Y, stepped up to cover two evenings a week for now.

 

"I did aquatics, fitness and sports when I was here, I was here as a lifeguard since I was 15," said DiSanti, now executive director of Youth Center Inc. "I'm really thrilled about it."

 

The building is open limited hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the pool is only open in the evening those days from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for now. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the goal is to not put too much programming in until an operator can take over the building. 

 

"So we had racquetball, Zumba, basketball, pickleball and cycling going for about a month," she said, during a tour of the facility. 

 

"I don't want to build programs that they're going to switch up. So we've been very sensitive to what we do, because I don't want them to come in and say, well, the city did this, and why are you doing that? And we're trying to build programs that they'll keep and continue."

 

DiSanti really stepped up to help get the pool open, she said, after the city ran a class for five people to train as lifeguards — none of whom were willing to work during the day. The mayor said there are couple in the pipeline now with the hope of getting the pool open in the mornings. 

 

"We won't be open seven days but we at least want to be open three solid days," she said. "So that's what we're working toward."

 

The pool was closed in March 2023 after the roof failed a structural inspection; a year later, the YMCA announced it would pull out. The organization had been in the city since 1886 and moved into the current building in 1971 after its Summer Street building was targeted for demolition as part of urban renewal.

 

By 1990, the Y was struggling financially and the city purchased its land and assets for $325,000 to clear its debt and to provide a location for the new and attached Brayton School. It was leased back to the nonprofit, which was responsible for its upkeep. 

 

When the Y left earlier this year, it took everything from the equipment to the soap dispensers, said the mayor, who described the condition of the building as "gross."

 

The walls have been freshly painted, the floors cleaned and buffed, carpeting removed and new flooring put in place in several areas. New cycles have been purchased along with other equipment and the former child-care area cleaned and painted for future use.

 

In the pool area, the roof has been repaired and three laminated beams had to be replaced. A new heating and ventilation system has been installed to control the humidity and prevent a repeat of the roof issues.

 

The pool has been "scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed," she said and the filters cleaned. Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau has been overseeing the filtration and pool pH and the lifeguards will be responsible for testing and cleaning at night. Notably, the building smelled clean and there's no odor of chlorine when you enter it.

 

"It's not perfect, but it's clean," said the mayor, who pointed out some other areas to attend, including the shared gym with the elementary school. 

 

On Thursday night, the parking lot was filling up and area residents were filing in to use the pool, the racquetball court, the gym and the cycling stations. Classes are being held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for spin, pickleball and racquetball, and in the evenings for fit fusion, racquetball and opening cycling.

 

Russell Beauchamp is in charge as a seasonal employee. Macksey said the $5 charge for activities is so far covering payroll but she hopes to bring on an operator in the coming months. She said she's been in talks with the Boys and Girls Club in Pittsfield, which has also helped with lifeguard training. 

 

The work to date has been done with the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds, which will be expiring. 

 

"We need income in the building," she said. "But I also feel this is a public service. I think this is really going to help rebuild and engage our young at heart population and provide a place, especially in the winter, for kids to come ... to get them away from the video games and the TV and that kind of stuff. ... 

 

"If it means I'm here a night a week, I'm here a night a week."