Pools prove a popular destination

Springfield residents had to find alternative ways to beat the heat on Tuesday.

Springfield's Forest Park Swimming Pool was shut down last week and won't re-open until the end of the heat wave.

Park Superintendent Patrick Sullivan told 22News, since most lifeguards are on their way back to college, he made the painful choice to keep the pool closed, using the available lifeguards at Five Mile Pond instead.

The Forest Park spray park is still operational for the children but 22News talked to parents who say they regret the pool being closed because people without a car have a tough time getting to Five Mile Pond.

"It's about a two hour ride to get one bus from downtown. Then you get on another bus to Five Mile Pond two hours later, sometimes the buses don't have air conditioning," said Kim Dicastro of Springfield.

Chicopee residents had a much easier time keeping cool on Tuesday.

The Fairview Pool was open. Mayor Michael Bissonnette told 22News, the park department was able to keep enough life guards from leaving to meet the heat emergency.

22News found a Chicopee teacher getting in a refreshing swim to escape the insufferable heat.

"Oh I'm ecstatic! You know, Springfield's already been shut down and I thank the mayor so much, this is awesome. I don't have anywhere else to go. Here I am," explained Nancy Rios.

The Chicopee Municipal Swimming Pool will stay open until the end of the week.

This week has been the hottest so far for the 2009 summer.