By ALEX SPONSELLER As the winter months approach, the local swim community is turning up the heat in its battle to see McDermott Pool reopened by the city of Warwick.

The pool has been shut down since the spring when the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out, and although many other pools across the state have since opened their doors, the historic Warwick facility is still shut down to the public.

Dozens of swimmers and swim families have gathered outside of both McDermott and Warwick City Hall in the past few weeks to protest and have been trying to reach Mayor Joseph Solomon for answers. Last week, the mayor’s office put out a release which explained that the pool will remain closed for various reasons surrounding the health and safety of those who use it.

Some of those issues included the tight spaces throughout the facility which would make social distancing impossible, as well as the age of some of the pool’s older swimmers.

Sally Miranda, who is a longtime swim mother and enthusiast, has been involved with the protests since the beginning and has been encouraged by the show of support that the cause has received over the past month.

“It’s a shame to see a viable swimming pool be shut down for inexplicable reasons. We’ve had a nice crowd with a wide variety of age ranges. I have received a number of emails from people that have been swimming outside, especially older people, that don’t have the financial ability to swim elsewhere. The YMCA is welcoming anyone and everyone, but it is more expensive. The seniors are missing out on the physical and mental health, the camaraderie. That goes a long way for someone that lives alone,” said Miranda.

Miranda also mentioned other demographics suffering without the pool, as well as the potential safety risks that could stem from its continued closure.

“The timing will be interesting and I am sure as the high school swim season gets closer, coaches will be putting pressure on the city to open the pool. It’s mechanically sound. People in the community need that physical and mental health release. The YMCA has also been holding swim lessons for kids 5 and under. It’s scary that swim lessons have not been happening at McDermott. It’s important because that is a life and death situation, to prevent drownings. It’s a disservice,” said Miranda.

Miranda and company will continue to fight to see the pool reopened and plan on letting their voices be heard up until and after the election. They are also willing to work together with Solomon and the city to establish a reopening plan, with hopes of providing access to high schoolers prior to the estimated December start to the swim season.

“Mayor Solomon’s office stated that it’s not safe to do so, but there are over 40 pools in the state that are open and are open safely with a modified format. To say it’s not safe is inaccurate. Many people have tried to reach out to Mayor Solomon to review how other pools have done it,” said Miranda. “Every pool has its own unique layout, and there are so many opportunities available at McDermott. They have garage doors that can provide plenty of fresh air, people can arrive in their swimsuits, shower one at a time. There are so many modified ways we can do this.”