Community Corner
Letter to the Editor: Graydon Pool and Ridgewood Expats
Preserve Graydon Coalition co-chair comments on recent 'Ridgewood Expats' article.
Editor's note: The letter below was sent via e-mail to the five members of Ridgewood's Village Council with copies to Tim Cronin, Director, and Nancy Bigos, Deputy Director, Department of Parks and Recreation. Ridgewood Patch reprints it with permission from the Preserve Graydon Coalition.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Memories of Graydon form an enduring part of the way people remember Ridgewood. We all know this, and it has been demonstrated over and over in recent articles in local publications about people who grew up here, including authors interviewed for The Ridgewood News, actor Robert Sean Leonard in a recent issue of (201) Magazine, and more.
A February 16 article in Ridgewood Patch, the excellent new online news source, about "Ridgewood Expatriates," a virtual community on Facebook enjoyed by 1,678 former village residents, and growing, reports:
[M]ost "Expats" members live outside the Ridgewood area, but many are plugged into current village events. One hot discussion topic is the future of Graydon Pool.
"Everyone's upset about Graydon, because [outside of schools] it's the single biggest common denominator of good memories," ["Ridgewood Expatriates" Facebook Page founder Jim] Gurdine said. "Everyone spent time there, and to see it turn into a concrete pool, well, everyone's universally against it."
The second photo of five that are attached to the Patch article is of a lifeguard in a lifeguard stand, looking out over Graydon.
And that's not counting the Save Graydon Pool Facebook site itself, with 1,263 members (no doubt with some overlap).
Former residents often still have friends and family here. Sometimes they visit or even move back. People elsewhere who are considering moving here may ask former residents about what it is like to live here. We can be sure they hear enthusiastically about the beach in our back yard. Would tales of a teensy four-foot-deep concrete pool live in "expats'" dreams and memories? Not likely.
Retaining the unique and desirable elements of the village that forge strong, positive memories is a mandate for those who make decisions about the village now. Graydon is one of very few such elements.
We hope this council will not go down in history as ending wonderful memories of Graydon, and of Ridgewood, for future generations, but will continue to encourage efforts to enhance and improve the beautiful amenity that we are fortunate to have.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Marcia Ringel
Co-Chair, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
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