The May 11 East Brunswick Town Council meeting opened with one topic clearly on the minds of residents: Crystal Springs.
Council President Dana Zimbicki addressed the issue almost immediately, saying she had received “dozens and dozens” of emails and phone calls following the previous meeting regarding rumors and concerns tied to Crystal Springs.
Zimbicki stressed that the council has not discussed closing Crystal Springs and said the facility is operating as normal heading into the summer season. She emphasized that Crystal Springs remains an important part of the township, especially for local students and young workers.
According to Zimbicki, the park currently employs around 125 lifeguards and is still hiring. She encouraged anyone looking for summer employment to apply quickly because lifeguard training was already underway.
She also pushed back against claims that Crystal Springs was shutting down, saying the park will open May 23 for Memorial Day weekend as scheduled. Zimbicki described the facility as “cost effective and reasonable” and highlighted newer ticketing options, including two-person season passes for households.
She compared Crystal Springs pricing to other entertainment venues, noting that some trampoline-style attractions charge around $25 for only two hours, while Crystal Springs offers a full day for a similar cost.
Zimbicki also acknowledged some operational challenges, particularly staffing shortages. She explained that reduced operating hours are partly tied to difficulties finding enough lifeguards to safely staff the facility.
Another major point she mentioned was that Crystal Springs took out a loan during COVID, but that loan is expected to be paid off this year. She framed that as a sign the facility is moving “in a good direction.”
Her overall message at the beginning of the meeting was clear: Crystal Springs is opening, operating, and continuing forward, despite rumors circulating online.
Joseph Criscuolo Explains Indoor Pool Discussions
Roughly twenty minutes later, Township Administrator Joseph Criscuolo expanded on another Crystal Springs-related issue that has generated significant discussion in town: the proposed indoor pool concept and the status of a $500,000 grant.
Criscuolo said misinformation online prompted him to publicly explain the situation.
According to Criscuolo, years ago township officials explored the possibility of an indoor pool facility in East Brunswick. At the time, conversations took place with the Board of Education regarding a potential new high school project that could include a shared indoor pool facility.
The concept was based around having students use the pool during school hours while the public could use it during evenings and weekends.
Criscuolo said similar shared-use models already exist elsewhere in New Jersey and can make more financial sense because pools are often underutilized during daytime hours.
He explained that the previous Board of Education and administration were not interested in the idea at that time, but East Brunswick still pursued grant funding through state legislators, ultimately securing a $500,000 grant.
Importantly, Criscuolo emphasized several times that the money has not been spent and remains available.
The township later explored whether Crystal Springs itself could house an enclosed indoor pool facility. However, after engineering review, officials concluded the site presented major challenges.
Criscuolo said the water table at Crystal Springs is extremely high, making foundation work costly and difficult. He also pointed to the distance between the main pool and bathroom facilities, saying the layout would not function well for winter operations.
Additional concerns included the unpaved parking lot, stormwater management complications, and winter plowing difficulties.
“It was not impossible,” Criscuolo explained, “but it would be quite costly.”
Because of those constraints, the township shifted toward exploring other redevelopment locations instead.
Criscuolo then revealed that officials are now revisiting the original shared-use school concept due to changes in district leadership. He said the township is currently having conversations with Superintendent Dr. Mamman, the new business administrator, and the current Board of Education about potentially using the grant money at or near the high school.
He described the process as “ever evolving” and confirmed that meetings are already scheduled between township officials, school administrators, and engineering staff to continue discussions.
Criscuolo also stressed that no final decisions have been made and that multiple locations are still being explored.
Residents Speak on Crystal Springs Hours
During public comment, resident Laura W. spoke passionately in support of Crystal Springs, calling it one of the major reasons her family moved to East Brunswick decades ago.
She argued that reduced operating hours are the primary reason membership has declined in recent years.
Laura W. said many residents in local community chats told her they dropped memberships specifically because the pool closes too early. She noted that working residents often cannot realistically use the facility if it closes at 6 p.m.
She also criticized the reduced value of day passes when weather interruptions can cut visits short.
According to Laura W., reduced membership did not cause reduced hours. Instead, she argued the reduced hours caused the membership decline.
Criscuolo Responds to Staffing Concerns
Criscuolo responded by giving a detailed breakdown of the staffing challenges facing Crystal Springs.
He explained that the lazy river alone requires nine lifeguards. The slides require another three to four lifeguards depending on volume, while the lap pool, splash areas, and Sapphire Bay all require additional staffing.
According to Criscuolo, the township needs approximately 20 to 25 employees per shift to safely operate the facility.
He said East Brunswick begins lifeguard recruitment in November and works hard to retain returning college students, but many move on to internships or career-related jobs after sophomore year.
Criscuolo also pointed to labor restrictions for minors, rising costs, and broader staffing shortages affecting pools statewide.
He noted that other pools and recreational facilities across New Jersey have reduced hours or closed entirely due to similar staffing and operational pressures.
PILOT Agreements and Budget Debate
Another major discussion involved PILOT agreements and redevelopment.
Resident Michael D. raised concerns that PILOT agreements may negatively impact the Board of Education financially over time.
Criscuolo pushed back strongly on that claim, arguing that many redevelopment sites were previously underutilized or blighted properties producing minimal tax revenue.
He used examples such as the former Wonder Bread factory site and old commercial properties on Route 18.
According to Criscuolo, the Board of Education still receives its approved budget and redevelopment projects ultimately generate more long-term revenue for the township.
Council members also clarified that PILOT funds legally can only be used for capital improvements, not operating expenses for the school district.
Other Topics Covered
Other residents raised concerns about Route 18 bus shelters, garbage collection costs, redevelopment transparency, affordable housing, insurance increases, township surplus funds, and debt service.
The meeting also included:
- Presentation of the township’s 2025 audit, which received a clean “unmodified opinion”
- Approval of the 2026 budget
- Discussion of grant funding entering the budget
- Discussion of a major water line replacement project near Route 1
- Primary election reminders and voter registration deadlines
- Announcements regarding the Junior Police Academy, fishing derby, and Memorial Day ceremony
The next East Brunswick Town Council meeting will take place Thursday, May 28 due to the Memorial Day holiday.
