We believe
Alexandria can’t give up community pride for jobs
There have been a lot of waves in the history of the Alexandria City Pool at Beulah Park.
The pool closed only once in its more than 40-year history. Ten years ago, a girl died in a drowning accident and the pool closed for the summer but it has never closed for budget reasons.
Now, Mayor Jack Woods is saying the city has no choice but to shut down the pool this summer. Maintenance and staffing costs run $85,000 annually, he recently said, but the pool only earns $16,000 a summer.
Woods also said that if the pool isn’t closed, then jobs will be lost.
With the city in a budget bind, Woods said he was given the choice of cutting jobs or closing the pool. “Somebody’s job is more important than the pool, to me.”
Aren’t jobs lost if the pool is closed? That explanation needs to be clarified by the city.
Additionally, we feel that a pool — while not as critical as police and fire services — is a quality of life issue that Alexandria can’t afford to give away.
Once closed, pools don’t magically reopen a few years down the road. We think this is a sad signal that Alexandria will forever be without a public pool.
We’re appreciative that a group of residents recognize the value that a public pool brings to a community.
Three Alexandria women have decided to take it upon themselves to save the pool. Vanessa Hosier, Penny Stevens and Sherry Brown are hoping to raise enough money to support the pool for two summers.
Alexandria residents and city officials must support these efforts to bring attention to the pool’s situation.
We hope that programming is explored to examine the feasibility of exercise programs for seniors, stay-at-home moms and evening swims for kids with their dads. It won’t make up the thousands of dollars but it may go a long way toward community pride.
We hope the city of Alexandria makes every effort to keep the pool open this year. Give it one more chance and pour every ounce of programming into the pool. Then, let’s decide.
