There is no beach in Ligonier.

That isn’t surprising. Westmoreland County is more than 100 miles from Lake Erie and hundreds more from the Atlantic Ocean. There is water in abundance from the variety of creeks and springs and more peppering Pennsylvania. There is no stretch of sandy shore perfect for bikinis and beach towels on a sunny day.

Once there was. Well, there was something close.

Ligonier Beach was built in 1925. It wasn’t the kind of faux tropical water park you might see in a touristy area today. It had no rapids, no man-made surfing wave pool and no river for tubing.

But at 1.3 million gallons, it was the largest swimming pool in the country at the time. It sported a music venue and restaurant. There was a time when you could swim and dive, go to dinner and listen to the song stylings of an undiscovered Dean Martin all in one day.

That ended when a flood damaged pool pumps in 2018. In 2019, Ligonier Township purchased the property with the hope of bringing it back to life.

Those dreams have ended because of red tape. The 10 acres will still be developed for the township. They just won’t include the pool that made Ligonier Beach special for so many people.

“After careful consideration, the study committee has chosen to advance the master site development plan without a pool due to the complexities of permitting restrictions,” said Janell Emery, chair of a study committee appointed to explore possibilities and treasurer of the nonprofit Friends of Ligonier Beach group.

It’s understandable. Community pools of all kinds have become harder to keep open in recent years. Some are because of the sheer cost. Operating a pool isn’t cheap. Neither is insuring it.

Then there are the legal issues. There are federal laws like the Virginia Graeme Baker Act focusing on entrapment, a response to the dangers of pool and spa drains and protection of children. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations address chemicals like chlorine.

But a project like Ligonier Beach is beyond those. The $100,000 study by Mackin Engineers & Consultants — paid by a combination of municipal and nonprofit funds — meets challenges like permitting for earth disturbance and the complications of nearby Loyalhanna Creek.

There is still an intention to use the property for recreation. There are interviews taking place with stakeholders. The next group being asked for input is area youth.

That’s important. If the pool is something that can’t come back, the property should be best developed for the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s residents.

It’s just sad that the magic of a beach conjured miles from the ocean can’t be recaptured because of a sea of obstacles.