Middlesex Sheriff’s Office & Town of Belmont prepare Underwood Pool for summer season

BELMONT, Mass – The opening of the Underwood Pool on June 18th was a celebration for many Belmont families, and represented a spring’s worth of preparation by the Belmont Recreation Office as well as the Department of Public Works Parks & Cemetery Division.  To ensure the pool area was ready for the busy summer season, the Town of Belmont partnered with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Community Works Program (CWP). Under the CWP, a three-member inmate crew under the supervision of a corrections officer spent a week cleaning the decks at the Underwood Pool and landscaping the grounds surrounding the facility. All work was completed before the facility opened to the public for the season.

“This program is a way for our inmates to give back to their community while learning valuable work skills prior to their release,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “Getting into the routine of working every day will better prepare these men to reenter society, and in the meantime we provide a much needed service to the Town of Belmont.”

CWP crews are comprised of supervised teams of three to five inmates nearing the completion of their sentences.  They conduct painting, cleanup and other projects under the direct and constant supervision of a correction officer.  All inmates have successfully completed individualized treatment plans (which may include substance abuse, educational/ vocational and other programming) and have been screened and approved for participation.

According to Town Administrator David Kale; “The Town of Belmont is grateful for the assistance provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Community Work Program. This partnership has allowed Belmont to provide necessary maintenance to an important recreational facility on schedule for a fraction of the cost.”

The Sheriff’s Community Work Program is provided to towns throughout Middlesex County.  Already this year crews have completed work in Arlington, Medford, Somerville, Waltham and twenty-three other communities.

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