NORTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP -- One day after it opened, the pool at Lackawanna State Park was closed.
Excited swimmers were greeted by signs saying the pool was shut for "maintenance."
Ann Marie Totino of Scranton exclaimed, “Everybody is complaining, we all want to go swimming!”
So, why is the brand new pool off limits on such a busy day? Mia Venesky, 9, volunteered to explain the delicate dilemma. She said, “The pool is closed because someone went number two in the pool.”
Officials tell Newswatch 16 it appears two swimmers may have had accidents Saturday afternoon.
The park manager explains while this sort of thing happens, this time, clean up was especially tricky.
Park Manager Kevin Koflanovich explained, “It's a super concentration of chlorine in the water for 25 and a half hours.”
Last year, the pool was shut for renovations. So many folks had been looking forward to this day since 2014. Koflanovich says he too is disappointed.
“It is disappointing to these folks and it is disappointing to me because I have been looking forward so long to having people here at this facility,” added Koflanovich.
Many families we met in the picnic area were confounded by the news.
“It's beautiful, but closed for maintenance, I don't understand,” said Walter Szyszko of Gouldsboro.
We explained to Szyszko why the pool was closed. His family decided to make the best of the situation and just go fishing instead.
“We wouldn't want to be in there anyways, it's for our own safety, that's good. Good to know,” added Szyszko.
The park manager says the goal is to get the pool open for Memorial Day on Monday.
He suggests people call the information line at 570-945-3239 or check the website for updates.
