If you’ve been wondering whether or not public swimming is allowed at Leonard’s Pond in Rochester, you are not alone. Several Rochester residents have been wondering that very question, and have taken to Facebook, catching the attention of Rochester Conservation Commission member Laurene Gerrior.
The topic of members of the public swimming in Leonard’s Pond came up during the August 7 Conservation Commission when Gerrior reported that she had been engaging with the public inside the comments of a Facebook post that kicked off the conversation: Is it okay for people to swim there?
Gerrior said she wanted to be able to provide the public with “a definitive yes or no” as to whether residents who do not own frontage on the pond are allowed to swim there.
“That may be something that we want to get a direct statement from town counsel on,” said Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon. With no lifeguards present, certainly the Town does not promote swimming, she said – “It’s not a public beach,” commented Farinon, ”however, people are allowed to go to public land to put a boat in, so we may want to put out a formal statement.”
Gerrior was satisfied with Farinon’s suggestion to seek a legal opinion, and The Wanderer will follow up with town counsel for a future update.
By Jean Perry