Some years ago the Columbia Association staff suggested closing 17 of the 23 outdoor village pools to "save money." Various surveys were conducted. In the end the idea went over like a lead balloon. Now the staff is floating a new idea: Close three "lesser used" village outdoor pools. They did a survey — of 62 residents. Sixty-two residents! Really. What a survey!
The problems with this proposal are considerable. Where will those residents go? Children will not be able to walk to their neighborhood pool until their working parents return home. And when their parents do drive their children to alternate pools imagine the result. Remaining pools will become overwhelmed with crowding and parking problems. And the residents whose village pools become unavailable lose not only their neighborhood summer recreation but a substantial degree of property value.
Oh, by the way, three of the remaining 20 outdoor pools then become the "least used," eligible for future closing. The staff may be well on their way to closing 17 pools after all. Wake up, Columbia! Whether or not your village pool is closed, you may very well be inconvenienced or worse.
Richard W. Blank
Long Reach