Scheduled to start this past Friday, July 9, the Secaucus Municipal Alliance (SMA), Mayor Dennis Elwell, and the Town Council have arranged for the pool to remain open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., giving teenagers a safe place to spend their Friday nights.
Teenagers are allowed in free as long as they're Secaucus residents.
The SMA is a civic organization appointed by the mayor and council to provide activities to help kids keep off drugs and alcohol, and to work with the schools to promote a healthy lifestyle.
"We were looking for something to do in town that would be geared towards the teenagers, and the suggestion was made that we try a teen night at the pool every Friday," said Carl Muccola, a member of the SMA. "What it is is, it gives the kids a place to hang out on a Friday evening in town. There is a snack bar, but what it really is is a pool and a place to hang out."
According to Muccola, this is the first time the SMA has tried to expand services to include the older kids in town.
"We constantly hear from kids that they have nothing to do and no place to go," said Mayor Dennis Elwell. "We're going to keep out pool staff there. It's a matter of keeping the staff on, and some of the supervisors."
Secaucus resident Elise Wohlrab, 20, a student at Ramapo College, is assistant manager at the pool. Her job is to oversee the lifeguards who watch over the pool. Their ages range from 15 to 20.
"It's good for the kids," said Wohlrab. "It gives them something to do at night."
Muccola said that presently, many teenagers spend time walking the streets or hanging out in the Plaza Diner.
"I'd just hang out with my friends," agreed Wohlrab, referring to her recent seven-year stint as a Secaucus teen. "We'd walk around the town and go to people's houses. People would have people over, or we'd hang out in the parking lot of the Plaza Diner, but we'd get kicked out. During the winter, we'd stay at people's houses."
The pool will close at 10 p.m. Town officials expect that Teen Night will appeal to younger teens, as teens 17 and older will have cars and therefore more options for nighttime activities.
"Seventeen and 18-year-olds aren't going to be coming here," speculated Wohltab. "For younger kids, it gives them something to do. Their parents know where they are, and they won't get into trouble."
Elwell said that rounding out the evening will be a DJ, although he has been given instructions to keep the music low to avoid causing trouble with the neighbors.
Other activities of the SMA include bringing motivational speakers to the school, such as former '49ers Running Back Johnny Davis, who spoke to Middle School students earlier this year.
On July 23, the SMA will sponsor a battle of the bands.
In April, the town spent $250,000 in bonded money for improvements on the pool, including a new waterslide in the main pool, and a complete refurbishing of the kiddie pool.
If the nights are successful, they will be continued into August. The next Teen Nights are July 16, July 23, and July 30.
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