The message was clear at a public meeting in Queens; people in the community want a public pool.
Around 75 people hearing results of a Queens County public pool survey. pic.twitter.com/4kY5axRYUc
— CKBW Radio (@ckbwradio) February 2, 2017
Karen Walsh moved to the area two years ago.
She says if there had been a pool then it would have made the decision much easier.
“There’s really no where that we’ve noticed in the community where a family can come to do something as a unit,” she says. “Certainly you can come observe your child play hockey or figure skate, but that’s not doing something together.”
Murray Claude, however, had some concerns about the true cost of a project this size.
“We only have so many people, and if you put another activity in here you’re going to rob from hockey and all the other activities. If it’s free, that’s great, who wouldn’t want it, but you have to pay for it.”
The municipality says all related costs will be made clear before ground is broken.
Meanwhile, the president of the Queens Community Aquatic Society says she’s glad to hear so much positive feedback.
Celeste Johnston says some people noted benefits of having a pool in the community that even society members hadn’t thought of.
“Someone said they’re recruiting nurses here and the nurses are asking what can I do, what can my kids do here. So, that was really encouraging to hear those kinds of comments.”
Johnston says the next step is to work with the Region of Queens to figure out how much the project would cost along with possible funding options.
