Graydon to Open to All Municipalities; Badge Sale Start Date Decided

Graydon Pool , the council decided Wednesday at its public meeting.

Badges will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for non-residents with a cap of 250 to be sold, per the ordinance.

But allowing non-Ridgewood residents into the controversial sand-bottom pool is nothing new. Residents of Ho-Ho-Kus and Midland Park over the years have been given the option of joining Graydon, and Ridgewood residents could sponsor friends/family in other towns as well, though village officials admitted in recent council meetings that perhaps the residency permit procedures were too onerous.

Resident Roger Weigand asked for clarification if residents of any municipality could join the village pool. Village Manager Ken Gabbert confirmed they could, which prompted Weigand to question if a New Yorker could. Again, the answer was yes.

"If they want to, we must be doing something right for them to come from New York," quipped Mayor Keith Killion.

Nevertheless, Graydon enthusiasts are happy with the ruling, which was unanimous.

"We've heard positive responses from former Ridgewood residents who are excited about the opportunity to return to Graydon," Marcia Ringel, co-president of Preserve Graydon Coalition said.

Councilman Paul Aronsohn stressed that the village should be focusing on how to bring back villagers to the pool at council meetings. Marketing efforts also should be strengthened, officials say.

Fees have also been raised for both residents and non-residents. Non-resident adults in 2011 can purchase a seasonal badge for $160 and non-resident children for $140. Fees will rise to $175 for adults and $155 for children in 2012.

Village Manager Ken Gabbert has called it "a modest increase" and Graydon preservationists have said they understand the need to raise prices somewhat to offset the operational loss Graydon has had in recent years. Gabbert says–as have council members–that he believes the inclusion of outsiders into Graydon could help eliminate the deficit, maybe as early as 2012.

What's still a point of disagreement appears to be the start date for early season badge sales. Gabbert had originally recommended May 1 for badge sale, which he said was at the request of Parks & Recreation staff.

The Preserve Graydon Commission maintains that would be the latest starting date ever; 2011 was April 1, according to Ringel. Badges were typically sold on the first Saturday in April, even with the advent of the CommunityPass internet signup, records show. The PGC wanted badges far earlier than the Parks & Recreation department.

An earlier start date would "give people more time to plan their summer and to hear what Graydon has to offer for the whole family, and for Ridgewood residents to take advantage of Early Bird pricing," Ringel told Patch.

The council debated when to start selling badges and decided on a compromise of April 15 through May 21 as pre-sale time period, Gabbert confirmed on Tuesday.