Building aquatic center 'is a quality of life issue'

Editor:

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Build the pool!

Our family is not involved in year-round swimming or high school swimming. We are one of many families who live in Columbia County that see a need for a community pool.

Everyone should have access to a swimming pool during the long, hot summer months. Everyone should learn how to swim. Currently, the only people with access to a pool are those who can afford to join a neighborhood pool ($400) or the Family Y ($65/month plus initiation fee). The guest fee at the Family Y is $15! To bring a friend and children would cost $60 for a couple hours of swimming!

The pools have limits on how many times you can bring a guest. Where do residents swim if they cannot afford the memberships? It is ridiculous that a county as large as ours does not have a swimming facility to support our numerous swimmers. We need a pool not only for the year-round swimmer, high school, middle school, elderly, handicapped, lap swimmer and masters swimmer, but also a place where everyone can get Red Cross swim lessons for their children and have affordable family fun.

No one likes to pay more taxes, but the pool is a quality of life issue. In a time where our families are getting heavier and exercising less, this is an investment that will help us all to improve the quality of life in Columbia County.

Colleen Hergott

Martinez