First declaration is that Moscow needs a community swimming pool.
Now, as a taxpayer, it makes no sense to me to have an outdoor pool
for the two months. I would prefer having something that opened, so
what summer we have could be included, but if that was prohibitive, I
could live without it. I have seen designs in Washington, France, and
Switzerland where natural light was a feature of the pool setting
whether the doors actually opened to the outside or not.
I would prefer that we do something so that the Moscow School
District (and other area school districts, if feasible) could hold
classes during the day (sorry about that, Sam). I think it is
important that we teach our children lifelong sports. It sickens me
every time we lose someone because they did not have basic water
skills.
I think we need to construct a standard size facility to maximize its
potential for rental. I'm not advocating a King county aquatic center
but something that will service the high school swimming
competitions, the club swimming competitions, and any university
swimming competitions.
By having additional pool space, there will be more of an opportunity
for kids who swim to have access to swim for fitness. I hear from
many parents how they would like to have lap swim available for kids.
This is currently only an option if a child joins a club sport, and
then there is pressure for competition. Kids deserve an opportunity
for fitness, too. Kids currently cannot lift weights nor participate
in indoor activities without their parents' participation on UI
facilities. The adolescents who would like to have a healthy
alternative to hanging at the mall are denied this opportunity.
Sorry this has gone on so long. I hope we can join together to make a
pool happen.
Lynn Baird
University of Idaho Library
Moscow, Idaho 83844
telephone: (208) 885-6713
email: lbaird@uidaho.edu