Batavians asked: What should be done with Quarry Beach?

What do Batavians want to do about Hall Quarry Beach?

The Batavia Park District began asking that question Tuesday, with the first meeting with residents interested in the history and future of the town's swimming hole.

Park officials said they are looking for "community resolution" on whether to keep the quarry as-is, close it, line it with concrete, add water park features or what.

"I would absolutely hate to see this Quarry not be here," said Barb Gross, who was a lifeguard at the Quarry in the late 1950s and takes water aerobics classes there now.

The meeting was attended by a dozen people, some of whom signed up to work on the question at the "Batavia Ignite!" community brainstorming session hosted in April by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

"We will be finding out what it is you want to see about the Quarry," said Alison Sohr, the district's marketing director, who is leading the effort.

"The park board is listening. The park district is here to accomplish the wishes of the residents."

She reviewed facts about the current operation. Attendance has been declining the last 15 years, from a high of 95,000 visitors in 1995 to about 20,000 last year, Sohr said.

The district expects to run a $61,000 deficit for the Quarry this year.

Since the south Batavia dam was removed in 2005, causing the Fox River level to drop up to 18 inches, resulting hydrostatic changes have caused the Quarry to lose about 250,000 gallons a day through its fractured limestone, officials said. When the river is high, as it was when water was impounded above the dam, river water fills those cracks, preventing Quarry water from leaving.

That leads to higher costs to run the Quarry, as it has to pump and chemically treat replacement water; essentially, it refills the Quarry every five days.

Since that water is coming from a 600-foot deep well at 58 degrees, and is not heated, it makes the Quarry cold. Early-morning water temperatures are often around 60 degrees, said Amber Schmidt, the district's facilities manager. Swim lessons are conducted in the morning, and people have found that too chilly, she said. The American Red Cross recommends keeping swimming pool water at about 78 to 80 degrees.

The district estimates the Quarry needs about $623,000 in equipment and building repair and replacement, not including fees for engineers, which would bring the bill up over $1 million. That price tag is what is prompting the discussion campaign, said Mike Clark, the district's executive director.

Sohr will make the presentation and solicit input at yet-to-be-scheduled sessions throughout the summer. There will be an online survey on the district's website, patrons of the Quarry will be surveyed, and a paper survey may be sent out with utility bills.

Those at the meeting Tuesday included Yvonne Dinwiddie, who organized a petition drive to get a referendum on November's ballot about the district's plans to borrow money for a downtown recreation center. Dinwiddie also suggested the board look to privately raise money needed for any solutions or upgrades the community suggests, so taxpayers aren't billed.

Once a meeting schedule is complete it will be available - along with other information on Quarry Beach - at bataviaparks.org.