Swim center won because voters wanted it
The following is a Counterpoint:
By William A. Hensel
As one of the leaders of the 2000 ballot effort to bring a swim center to Greensboro, I am in a unique position to reply to Allen Johnson’s column (Nov. 23) once again telling us that the swim center is a bad idea — a position he has consistently held. Yes, the voters have spoken: they have endorsed a swim center as a central part of a larger Parks and Recreation bond package. They have voted to invest in our community’s future.
I differ with Johnson’s assertion that the public’s vote for the bond package must mean that the pool’s supporters were devious, the public was woefully uninformed or both. To deny the project has merit is disingenuous.
The swim center always belonged under the domain of the Parks and Recreation Department. In 2000, I thought my group had crafted an appropriate partnership between the City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department, the YMCA and private donors. That concept, which Johnson supports now but not then, met defeat because the swim center was separated from a larger Parks and Recreation bond by a split decision on City Council. Given the then-new Parks and Recreation long-range plan, which endorsed building not one but two new indoor pools, I was dumbfounded.
The financial impact of the project was analyzed by a study commissioned by the city. Yes, it would have a negative operating budget, but it would have a strongly positive financial impact on the community.
I wholeheartedly agree that the facility should serve the entire community. Like all things public, pool design and usage should maximize community benefit.
An underlying bias of my opinion is that youth sports are good for kids. They can learn the structure and discipline of games with rules. Given the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, I can think of no better investment that a community could make than in its youth sports programs. As a family physician, I also know the benefits of aquatic exercise for the elderly. Only in the water can some of my arthritic patients be free to move. What price do you put on a healthier community?
I have always believed the swim center had merit and was deserving of community support. I continue to volunteer for the sport of swimming because I am grateful for what it has done for me and my family.
I’d like to invite Mr. Johnson to join me at next year’s city meet at the Lindley Park Public Pool. Perhaps then he might understand how much a public pool can benefit a community.
The writer lives in Greensboro.
Comments (5)
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Thanks Bill for a well written, informative response to AJ. It has always seemed to me that the first attempt for a nice pool facility was in many respects the best. Hats off to you and your team for the effort. Just think of the benefits we would be enjoying today. Not to mention the monetary savings overall. I too noted Allen's back to the future moment when he "hoped" we would pursue some sort of partnership.
Posted on December 4, 2008 8:15 AM
Bill,
Thank you very much for the letter and clarification. Allen Johnson's editorials were lacking in research and thoroughness. His accusations were appalling and misleading to the public and highly disrespectful to the citizens who helped promote the facility, services and other benefits to the community.
Posted on December 4, 2008 7:17 PM
if you knew them, this man and the other men and women who have been "leaders of the greensboro swim community", you would know they are basically pompous asses...
also, those pompous asses are not coincidentally upper to a tier or two above upper middle class and able to invest the small fortune it takes to keep their kid(s) in a year round swim program...by and large and of course there are exceptions, year round competitive swimming is populated with spoiled brats who couldnt make it in another competitive sort and therefore are limited to involvement in country club sports where there are others like them....say what these asses will, we are building a $12 million swim center for the little brats and their obnoxious parents.
Posted on December 5, 2008 9:27 AM
if you knew them, this man and the other men and women who have been "leaders of the greensboro swim community", you would know they are basically pompous asses...
also, those pompous asses are not coincidentally upper to a tier or two above upper middle class and able to invest the small fortune it takes to keep their kid(s) in a year round swim program...by and large and of course there are exceptions, year round competitive swimming is populated with spoiled brats who couldnt make it in another competitive sort and therefore are limited to involvement in country club sports where there are others like them....say what these asses will, we are building a $12 million swim center for the little brats and their obnoxious parents.
Posted on December 5, 2008 9:29 AM
if you knew them, this man and the other men and women who have been "leaders of the greensboro swim community", you would know they are basically pompous asses...
also, those pompous asses are not coincidentally upper to a tier or two above upper middle class and able to invest the small fortune it takes to keep their kid(s) in a year round swim program...by and large and of course there are exceptions, year round competitive swimming is populated with spoiled brats who couldnt make it in another competitive sort and therefore are limited to involvement in country club sports where there are others like them....say what these asses will, we are building a $12 million swim center for the little brats and their obnoxious parents.
Posted on December 5, 2008 9:29 AM