For those who didn't know (and if you did know all about this topic, why would you be reading this?) the CA Aquatics Master Plan Task Force has been meeting over the past several months, plotting and scheming the future for the water-loving public of Columbia. In fact, one may find the draft Master Plan here. You can also find lots of other information, like the names of the scrapple-eating bohemians who comprise the Task Force. Let's examine their nefarious scheming, shall we?
First off-- whatever dope devised the catchy, water and pool-related subtitles for the chapters of the Master Plan ought to be tased on their windpipe. Are we writing a serious planning document for a city of 100,000 or an agenda for a Boy Scout den meeting? Cute, but let's save the cute.
So, Stevens Forest being my home pool (well, one of them, I guess, now), I'm still waiting for it to become an "adult" pool. I'm waiting for my 84-degree covered pool, my jacuzzis, but most importantly, my swim-up complimentary bar and scantily-clad bartenders and masseuses. Can anyone on the Task Force help me out here?
As I continue to review the draft report, I come across Page 1 of Chapter 4, which describes public meetings that were held in October, 2012. Wow, I hope I can make it! Although I'm one of the last people who should criticize others' typos. But I will anyway!
Chapter 5-- Stevens Forest pool gets it's hot tub and spa. Whoo-HOO!!!
OK, now for Chapters 6 and 7-- the recommendations and costs of same.
I think there is a dearth of Olympic-length pool lap inventory in Howard County-- as in, practically none. So wherever there is the opportunity to create that inventory, I say it should be created. Recall my earlier posts on the swim club tax breaks. CA, through the pools, exists in competition with those swim clubs. So how about offering a unique resource?
I don't think any of the current pools should be closed. Rather, I think they should become indoor facilities with possibly some of these "zero-depth" water options added. One of the locations could possibly be the location of an Olympic-length facility-- maybe, say,Talbott Springs?
The Columbia Swim Center/ Splashdown issue. There appear to be some of these Task Force members who have an axe to grind about this facility. Wonder if any of them live in Wilde Lake? I can recall several years ago when some noise was made about keeping the Columbia Ice Rink where it is because the Oakland Mills Village Center was "dying". Well, it's not so "dying" now, and many an ice hockey or figure skating family comes over to the village center to patronize a merchant or two. I tend to think that the same will happen once Wilde Lake's village center undergoes a face-lift. I also have to wonder if again, the Swim Center can't be expanded to include an Olympic-length facility, or maybe build said facility (or perhaps an enhanced diving venue) to replace Splashdown. After all, people would then still be splashing down!
I am not those who feel that a pool is an unalienable right of every Columbian-- though of course, I do support the recommendations to increase access to the pools. But I do believe that the pools are a unique resource and as the needs of the communities change, so too must the facilities.