City needs new indoor public pool

Spokane needs a pool paradigm shift, quickly.

A recommendation before the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for a new indoor pool facility should be a priority to enhance our region’s quality of life. Otherwise, a number of residents will be left high and dry, literally.

Spokane has seven to eight months of inclement weather. Very soon, the city plans to close the only public indoor pool – Shadle Park Pool – likely in about a year. That means no public swim lessons – fall to spring – for kids of families seeking more affordable options than membership-

based clubs.

No public water aerobics classes. No place for a large number of practices for more than 100 area youths who use Shadle for year-round competitive swimming.

With Shadle pool’s imminent destruction for Shadle Park High School’s fall 2007 remodel, the need for a replacement indoor pool is becoming more critical. A Parks and Recreation draft 20-year strategic plan highlights the need for a Shadle replacement, grouped with other pool proposals.

Under the draft plan, an aquatics citizens advisory panel’s report calls for a new indoor facility for lap swimming and swim teams, lessons, water aerobics, therapy and other public users.

Such a choice of a modern aquatics center versus the 1950s-ish Shadle gives city residents year-round options: kids in lessons beyond summer’s short frenzy, triathletes in training, swim team activity, seniors seeking nonimpact exercise, therapy sessions and water safety courses.

From a public safety standpoint, we’re surrounded by lakes and rivers and need more ways, not fewer, to make young people strong swimmers.

From an economic standpoint, weekend swim meets can draw up to 500 kids and their families, with many traveling and spending money at hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

I’ll admit I first started caring about aquatic needs after learning of the benefits that competitive swimming offers our area youth, through my sons’ involvement. I’ve also watched the impact a modern facility such as the Valley YMCA can have in a neighborhood.

And I’ve watched several high school students achieve nationally ranked status as members of one of our area’s largest swim teams – Spokane Area Swimming, an affiliate of USA Swimming and the YMCA. SAS has more than 120 swimmers ages 6 to high school seniors.

These swimmers need facilities year-round for daily practices and rely mainly on Shadle and the outdoor Witter pool. Many parents I’ve talked to love having their children in swimming because it promotes nonimpact, lifelong exercise. Not every kid is wired for football, baseball or soccer.

I see entire families participate in swim meets usually once a month with other teams such as the Spokane Waves and Coeur d’Alene Area Swim Team. Larger regional meets every two to three months draw people from the Pacific Northwest, Pullman-Moscow, Yakima, Tri-Cities, etc.

Spokane needs at least one indoor facility for multiple users that also supports competitive swimming.

A few years back, if a survey asked if pools should be more about play and splash toys, I may have said yes.

But I now know that traditional aquatics are needed by a large segment of our community, including our youths who thrive while learning – in a fun way – to do the butterfly, the breaststroke, the freestyle and backstroke.

Spokane can’t leave these young people – or other public users – out in the cold.