Take The Plunge On 50-Meter Pool

Prospects for a 50-meter swimming pool in the Spokane Valley remain alive and flutter-kicking.

Spokane’s County commissioners showed vision this week when they agreed to consider building an Olympic-size pool at Valley Mission Park.

Commissioner Phil Harris had pointed out that the county could build a facility more than twice as large as the proposed $1.5-million, 25-yard pool for an additional $500,000.

But getting more pool for the taxpayers’ dollar is just one of the compelling reasons to build a 50-meter pool.

The originally proposed, 25-yard pool wouldn’t be significantly larger than the leaky, decades old pool it would replace.

The existing pool was adequate when it was built, but the Valley’s population has boomed since then and will likely continue to grow for years to come.

The Valley YMCA pool opened this spring and has been consistently busy. That just underscores the need for this rapidly growing area to plan for more swimming facilities.

A major public aquatics center would serve the whole community.

We live in an area where water sports are a big part of recreation. Having a safe, controlled place to learn to swim often plays a large role in our future enjoyment of the water.

From beginning kayakers and scuba divers looking to hone their skills before they take to open water to parents with toddlers looking for a place for a pleasant dip, a 50-meter pool could serve a myriad of needs. The list of potential uses is long and diverse: water aerobics, low-impact exercise classes for seniors, water safety classes, synchronized swimming, water polo and open swim sessions to name just a few.

A 50-meter pool would also be ideal for training and competition. And Spokane swimming enthusiasts have even offered their help to raise money to build the structure.

It’s true that changing building plans to accommodate a 50-meter pool would delay the project. But county parks officials say they can keep the existing pool running for another year or two if that’s what it takes to build a larger pool. It would be worth the wait.

When the commissioners ponder the new pool they also should consider covering it to protect it from the elements and extend its use from the short summer season to year-round.

As the Valley grows, why should it just tread water with a 25-yard county pool when it can build an Olympic-size aquatics center with a future? It’s time to take the plunge.