With sweltering summer heat gripping the Hudson Valley, Cornwall’s only public pool remains closed—and the town is now turning to residents to help decide what comes next.

The decades-old facility on Main Street was shut down before the season began due to major safety concerns and mounting maintenance issues. Built in the 1950s, the pool has deteriorated significantly, with town leaders citing severe leaks, outdated infrastructure and the risk of failing health inspections.

“We were losing 10, 15, even 30,000 gallons of water a day,” said Town Supervisor Josh Wojehowski. “Some days the water level would drop 3 feet overnight, and we had to keep a hose running constantly to refill it.”

Officials estimate the leaks alone were costing taxpayers up to $40,000 annually. The locker rooms, bathrooms and pump house are also in disrepair.

“This is the original concrete here,” Wojehowski said. “There are only so many times you can paint over something or patch it with cement before it just doesn’t work anymore.”

At the start of summer, the town surveyed more than 1,000 residents. About 75% supported replacing the pool entirely. Suggestions included a beach-style entry, more picnic space, water slides and combining the kiddie pool with the main pool.

“The big thing is they want a pool,” Wojehowski said. “This is a community resource, and people come to Cornwall to raise families. They expect amenities like this.”

Replacing the pool and surrounding infrastructure could cost between $5 and $6 million. Town officials say they are actively pursuing state and federal grants to help cover the cost. A draft design may be ready for public review this fall, with construction potentially beginning in 2026 and a target reopening in 2027.

As the town weighs its options, some residents say they’re hopeful—and willing to invest in the future of the pool.

“I wanted to do laps in the town pool this summer, so I was very upset it was closed,” said resident Keith Kelly. “But I do think reopening it is important.”

“It’s really nice to have a pool to swim in, for sure,” added resident Palmina Piccaro. “The taxes are already pretty high—but I guess I’d support {an increase} if it meant getting a new one.”

In the meantime, the town has arranged for residents to use Long Pond at West Point under a temporary agreement.

The town is also preparing to begin construction on a new playground adjacent to the pool this September, with work expected to be completed by Oct. 1.