Long way from reality
Dear Editor:
I’ve been a supporter of Friends of the Pool for many years. I do this for the important community benefit the pool provides for people of all ages. I think a year-round pool would be great for them.
Nonetheless, I found your headline “Indoor pool is overwhelming choice” to be somewhat misleading. From Ann McCreary’s excellent article, it appears that only 40, self-selected people participated in the online forum. I don’t think their views tell us how ready valley residents may be to support an incredibly expensive investment and the expected high, ongoing operational costs.
As your editorial points out, there are many questions to be answered. We have a long way to go before a new pool can become a reality. It is hard to forget the long fight to get approval for a new, main fire station. Virtually everyone agreed we needed it, and its cost was a fraction of what an indoor pool could cost. That was $4 million for the fire hall versus $10 million to $20 million even for the less-expensive indoor pool option. Yet it took years of arguing over details and voting before the community gave final approval to the new fire station.
I say good luck to us in resolving the questions soon, as your editorial points out we need to do. But I won’t be rushing out to buy a new bathing suit yet.
Randy Brook
Twisp
Thoughts on the pool
Dear Editor:
Regarding the question, do we need a swimming pool?
When we talk about building a swimming pool, the first thing we need to take into consideration is will it be successful or will it be a burden? If you build it in Twisp, it will be a burden on the residents of Twisp as it has been for a number of years. To make it a success, the first thing we must do is get rid of the Parks and Recreation involvement and Friends of the Pool committee. They have done nothing but spend money on repairs and wallowed in self-glory since they came into existence.
That being said, let’s get down to the needs and reasons for a pool. Should it be an indoor pool? Yes. Why do we need a year-round indoor pool?
We have one of if not the best swim teams in the county, and they have no pool to practice in year-round. With a year-round pool, they could practice and be in tip-top shape for all events and competitions and could even host them. That would also require a judging station, seating for spectators, a concession stand, showers and dressing rooms. An indoor year-round pool would also make it possible to add a swim class to the school’s gym criteria. What do we need for all this to take place? Parking — one thing Twisp does not have.
We have hundreds maybe even thousands of vacationers hit the Methow Valley every year who we know would love to have a safe place for their children to swim. That would make an opening for a temporary storefront selling pool- and swim-related items during the summer.
What would we do with the existing Wagner Pool? Turn it into a skateboard or summer event center.
The big question is: Where should a pool of this enormous size be built? As close as possible to or even on the Methow Valley School District property. Who could help with this project? Try the Kiwanis, Microsoft or Washington state grants. Sorry if we have offended anyone, these are only our thoughts.
Jo Doyle
Mary Bean
Twisp
