Ending the poolishness

Having a community pool is a good idea. It’s so good, in fact, that we’ve got a number of them. The Sonoma Aquatic Center, for example, has a collection of pools for community use, both indoor and outdoor. And if you are a member of the Parkpoint Club community, a nice pool is available too. There’s a pool at Hanna Boys Center, and in the summer Morton’s Hot Springs is available.

There used to be a swimming pool at Sonoma Valley High, but one morning then-Superintendent Jamison had it bulldozed into oblivion without Board of Trustee approval. Since then, some people have been clamoring for a replacement, understandably so.

Sonoma Splash, a citizen non-profit formed to build a community pool in the Springs, proposed a solution. But having purchased the Paul’s property without having sufficient capital in hand – or in sight – to actually build anything, seems to have ground to a halt. Plans to sell off the Little League field to raise construction cash hasn’t improved Splash’s popularity or credibility in the community which is growing increasingly doubtful Splash can raise the dough to build and operate a pool. In a public letter, its private partner – the Parkpoint Health Club – sounded less than “all in” on the project.

Meanwhile, the School district has kept the idea of a new pool facility in its master plan, so we may end up with a swimming pool available at the High School for community use, if it gets built and if all the inevitable conflicts between school and community use could be resolved

A community pool serving a variety of swimming purposes – from family swims to competitive meets — is best realized through ownership and management by local government or a similar body with taxing authority, such as the School District. The on-going costs of maintenance, insurance, staffing, supplies and such require a stable, reliable revenue stream supported by the entire community, not dependent on the largesse of wealthy benefactors and an unknown number able and willing to support a pool with on-going membership fees.

We believe it’s time the City and County of Sonoma partner with the School District to develop a plan to build and operate a top-notch pool into the future. This would not preclude other for-profit entities and individuals from likewise volunteering their time and money to enhance and support it.

We’ve been spinning wheels on this community pool issue for a decade, and it’s well past time that a fully-funded, viable solution is developed. There is no need to reinvent the wheel; institutions with the administrative and financial capabilities already exist, and they also have access to available land held in their hands.

The Iranian nuclear deal was negotiated, signed and implemented in less time than the Valley has been talking about a pool. If everyone thinks a pool is important – and no one has said it isn’t – then county, city, school district and Splash representatives need to sit down in one room and work out a plan to make it happen. Enough Poolishness.

Sun Editorial Board