Letter: Keep the 50-meter swimming pool in Jasper!
I am aware that the redesign of the outdoor Jasper Municipal Swimming Pool is a hot topic currently. So is the Regional Wellness Center proposal. It sounds like there is a lot of debate in the community and strong feelings. Who gets to decide? Is it a vote within our community? Is it our elected officials? Or other appointed officials who we are unfamiliar with? I will start by saying I am more familiar with the outdoor proposed pool redesign and less familiar with the proposed Regional Wellness Center, but to the best of my knowledge, neither of these facilities will replace what we already have, which is a 50-meter pool.
Our current 50-meter, Olympic standard swimming pool has been in our community for 60-plus years. It has been an asset to many; kids come to cool off in the summer, take swim lessons, hold competitive swim meets, work as and become certified in lifeguarding, birthday parties, and competitive swim training for all ages.
The previously posted article by Dubois County Free Press at https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/new-pool-focuses-on-fun/ mentioned that according to Tom Moorman, the Park Director, our current 50-meter pool “is primarily only used on the two ends where the diving platforms and slide are located” (Crane, 2023, para 7).
I would strongly disagree with this statement. I understand that our community has only held one competitive swim meet each summer there, but it is utilized for competitive swimming more than one may think.
What some do NOT see is the amount of competitive swim training that goes on within our current 50-meter pool. This is because our US Master’s (adult) swimmers, Jasper Aquatics Wildcats (JAWS) swimmers, and high school swim team all practice within the pool very early on weekday mornings while most of us are sleeping or just rising for the day. They practice at these early times to not disrupt other scheduled activities such as swim lessons or open swim hours because our current pool is in such demand. To take this type of facility away and only replace it with a smaller pool would NOT be an upgrade, but a downgrade to the demands of our growing community.
I am not the only one who feels this way. Within just 24 hours, over 250 signatures have been obtained from community members who share my views. Please see and share this collection of signatures on https://chng.it/LWBWT4NXXN; feel free to sign it also if you agree.
The question is, now what? Who can we share this with? I have sent a formal letter to Mayor Vonderheide, all the city council members, and the Park Director. I have heard back from a few of them. I have learned that this is ultimately up to the Redevelopment Commission (made up of five voting individuals) and the Redevelopment Authority (made up of three people).
I have also learned that there was already a public hearing held in April, specifically Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, at 8 a.m. Meeting minutes can be reviewed on the http://www.jasperindiana.gov website. There was no public comment within that meeting.
During that meeting, again, from what I have learned, the Redevelopment Commission and Redevelopment Authority entered into a lease agreement to fund the new pool. I have not seen another public hearing held on the matter since. I have been told there is likely not enough public interest to persuade the Redevelopment Authority from its current redesign plans.
If these eight individuals get to decide the course of our community’s future pool, why do the 250 signatures not matter? Two hundred and fifty individuals within our community do not oppose the current plans; we are just asking for the current plans to INCLUDE a 50-METER POOL. This would truly upgrade our current pool by adding to it, not taking away from what we currently have.
In my opinion, a prime example of a true aquatic center is the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, which features an outdoor splash pad, an indoor recreational pool, an indoor Olympic standard competitive swimming pool, and an area for diving. The wall of this facility proudly portrays a portrait of Lilly King, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer, born and raised in Evansville.
It is very inspiring. I would encourage you to tour that facility if you have not already seen it.
If the current plans do not allow the capability for a 50-meter Olympic standard pool, like we have now, the plans should be reassessed. We know the current space fits a 50-meter pool because one currently resides there. It would be SO unfortunate to take away such an important community asset. To call it an upgrade while taking away something our community already values would be imprudent.
If cost is the issue, our recent festivities during the Strassenfest have shown that our community is capable of raising a substantial amount of money, as they did for the half pot. This 50-meter Olympic-sized pool has been in demand by our community members, as seen by its full swim schedule and packed summer days. Our community can do this right, upgrading our pool properly and still allowing some of the fun aspects that are in the new proposal by KEEPING it a 50-meter pool.
I look forward to seeing our community strengthen and coming together to meet everyone’s needs. With that, I ask, please consider signing the attached pledge (above) or contact our elected and appointed officials to voice your thoughts.
Tara Knight, Jasper
Reference: M. Crane. (August 9, 2023). New pool focuses on fun. https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/new-pool-focuses-on-fun/
I completely agree. Let’s upgrade our pool and continue to focus on healthy opportunities for our community members.
Agreed! Build a facility that is an upgrade for the entire community. Just imagine, if we built a true Aquatic Center with an indoor 50-meter pool, an indoor recreational pool, and an fun pad/pool, instead of 2 separate facilities like it’s planned, Jasper would benefit SO much. We could potentially be a location for Divisionals too!
We will have ZERO potential Olympians or even college contenders if we have no 50 meter training facilities. Training in 25 yard pools just does not adequately translate. You have to over train for events. That encompasses built in slow downs like turns. The tri-state needs 50 meter pools. The distance between the ones we even do have is too much.
Not sure I fully understand and/or agree with the stated differences and the need/necessity for two projects of essentially (including) two pools right next to each other…one in place of the 50-meter pool (not replacing it for what it is), plus another pool dubbed as the “aquatic” part of the proposed wellness center…at least enough to spend a combined $50M for both, regardless of how funded, the sources, etc. Again, that’s $50,000,000…! Not sure the “build it and they will come” philosophy…or “bigger/more is better,” (to have the most/be the best, etc)…is either realistically justified or prudent, all things considered. Rather, and I’m no expert, consider some other options such as building the Wellness Center with some cost-cutting conciliatory tweaks here/there and getting earnest, good-faith cost estimates for a either a new 50-meter or rehabbing/upgrading the existing. Either one has to be less than what’s proposed.
I absolutely agree! Not sure why building 2 separate facilities next door to one another, with neither having a 50-meter pool is a better option that just building one facility with a 50-meter pool to replace what the community already had. Or like you said, revamping the one that’s already there. ????? Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I started a petition about this, feel free to sign if you agree! https://chng.it/KTBN8k88dH
Mac, with all due respect, “rehabbing” the existing pool is pointless. In order to fix the pipes and plumbing that needs fixed, means ripping up the entire pool deck AND the pool. The entire pool has already had a liner installed years back and even that is failing. By the time one goes through all that, one is essentially building an entire new pool anyway.
As the saying goes, “you can polish a turd, but it’s still a turd.”
If you support a new 50 meter pool, fine, but trust me, overhauling the existing pool is folly.
What he said!