The Parks, Recreation &Open Space Comprehensive Plan Update 2008 was presented to the City Council on March 18. There is an opportunity for public comments at the April 15 council meeting. I urge ALL citizens who are concerned about Edmonds’ lack of an indoor aquatic center come to the meeting and be heard. There are three reasons you should be heard:
• Even though the 2008 plan is identified as an update, there is no indication of evaluating the goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan of 2001. In that plan, “the City Council accepted the 1994 Family/Aquatic Center Feasibility Study and stated the development of an aquatic facility would be the next major capital project.” Survey data from this study are true today. What happened to the aquatic facility major capital project?
• Yost Pool was built in 1972 and is only open three months a year. High school swim teams, swimming lessons, water aerobics, scuba classes, public water safety programs and lifeguard training require an indoor pool to be open year around.
• A goal in the 2008 plan is to “provide a high quality park system that offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities and experiences.” Yet in the 13 objectives related to this goal, none mention an indoor aquatic center, which was given a high priority in 2001. In the 2008 survey, citizens of Edmonds, as in 1994, still consider an aquatic center the highest priority. In the 2008 update, a $65,000 feasibility study for a pool is identified as a high priority. Is another study good use of our tax money? Wouldn’t the $65,000 be more wisely spent locating a site for the aquatic center?
Currently, nine months out of the year, Edmonds citizens must go to indoor pools in adjacent cities and support those cities’ coffers.
Let your voice be heard on April 15 in favor of moving forward on an aquatics center as the voters have supported since 1994, not just delaying progress with another study!
Cathy Washington
Edmonds
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