By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA — The effort to save the city pool has grabbed the attention of a national news outlet.
On Tuesday, Mayor Jack Woods said he’d been contacted by USA Today about the pool. “They’re going to write a small blurb about it for right now.”
In March, Woods announced that the pool would have to be closed this summer due to a shortage in the city budget.
Woods said he believes Alexandria will be featured in a USA Today article “about how small cities are coming together for the community, working for the best for the community.”
“They wanted to know how this all came about,” Woods said. “They were very interested in that.”
A few months ago, Vanessa Hosier, Cheri Brown and Penny Stevens decided to raise money and save the pool. Residents pitched in and came up with about $40,000. Alexandria’s students raised $5,000 on their own, according to Hosier.
The USA Today story is expected to run sometime next week.
As for the pool, workers are currently installing a new liner to reduce leaks caused by cracks in the foundation.
The mayor has visited the pool to check up on the progress and pitched in to help fill cracks before the liner arrived.
After months of city residents working to save the city pool, city officials will soon be joining Woods in getting their hands dirty for the cause.
Woods has invited members of the Alexandria City Council and Park Board to join him in a ‘paint the pool’ day on May 30.
The pool won’t actually be painted, the mayor said, but lifeguard stands and railings around the pool need a touch-up before the big opening.
As a thank-you to the community, Woods said the pool will open at 11 a.m. on June 6 and the city will host a free swim day. All are invited to come and celebrate the opening.
Although the pool is opening, the pool ladies are a long way from their goal and are continuing to raise funds to support the pool and to prevent putting it in financial jeopardy again. On Saturday, the women will host a Save the Summer Lunch in the parking lot at Key and Son Feeds on Indiana 9 in Alexandria near Strong’s market. The ladies will be selling hamburgers and hot dogs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters @heraldbulletin.com
Buy a hot dog, save the pool
What: Save the Summer Lunch
Where: Key and Sons Feeds, Indiana 9, Alexandria
When: Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
