With a capital $, and that $tands for Pool
Attendance dwindled at Crystal Lake Pool.
That's my perception. There were so few visible patrons the last few times I jogged past, I wouldn't have known it closed, but for the missing water.
A few years have passed, and the Urbana Park District now wants you to vote for even more taxes, to pay for a new aquatic center. This tax would augment, not supplant, the tax you approved in 2009 — also for the park district.
An irresponsible reliance on TIF, like heroin to municipalities, means school and park districts will continue to pester constituents for lifeblood. So you shouldn't be surprised that the UPD wants to know — again... already — if you'd like to spend more dollars on more services.
My question is whether you, the liberal, would be best served by voting "yes, pool."
If you build it, will they come?
My dad, the stalwart Fox News enthusiast, will be voting "yes." He doesn't want to deny today's young parents the opportunity he enjoyed. That's his reasoning. The McColley kids were a huge burden to the local taxpayer, on every level. (Thanks.)
I still look good in a Speedo.
Do young parents take their kids to the pool? Do helicopter moms allow their precious ones to mingle with urban latchkeys? Has the ubiquity of air conditioning and video games diminished the need for relief from heat, and boredom?
What about the pee?
The UPD provides some answers on their website. You can credit or dismiss the timeliness and methodology at your convenience.
For up to the minute results, I asked UPD staff to answer some questions. I also asked Park Board President Michael Walker to respond to these questions. Because they had anywhere from three days to an hour to respond, I won't hold it against them if they don't get back to me (and you) before the polls open.
Don't we already have a park district pool?
Who would use the outdoor pool?
How have air conditioning and video games changed the climate, so to speak, of summer youth activities?
Will people vote for the pool because they think it's something they should do for the community, or because they want a pool?
What data have you seen suggesting a desire for a pool, or that it would be used?
5 comments
anonymous
In spite of bleeding the liberal blue, I voted no. I might have felt differently if it were just a “pool” or repairs for the old “pool”, but no, instead, it is a multi-million dollar extravagance. Don’t we have more important things to worry about and throw our money at?
J Hannah
I voted yes and encourage everyone to do so. Yes, my family will use the pool, but more importantly the pool will provide an affordable, supervised community space where kids of all ages and families can get outdoor exercise and engage with one another. There are too few community spaces left that belong to all of us. As for it being an “extravagance” rather than a simple rectangular pool, a great deal of research was done on what kind of pool would engage kids and family and get vigorous use. If we’re going to put money into building such a community resource, I want it to be one that will meet the needs and desires of locals in such a way that its used as fully as possible.
1) A pool/facilities/maintenance/programs increase was rejected in 2008. The sans pool increase for facility/maintenance/programs was passed in 2009. So this pool question has been answered with a no once. What has changed since that time that the public is now more receptive to a new pool? It seems that the pool is being rammed through with additional campaigning and holding the referendum on an off election year.
2) Is spending $7 million for an operations/maintenance intensive facility that is only open for 3 months out of the year a good return on investment? According to UPD, “A simple rectangular pool does not meet the needs of today’s residents,” yet this new, more expensive facility is projected at 69,000 visitors a year, less than the 80,000 the old, simple Crystal Lake Pool drew in its heyday. Any activity can be made more popular by throwing money at it, but this doesn’t make a municipally owned amusement park necessary.
3) Our community already has a fiscally sound outdoor pool facility. I don’t know the current financial numbers, but Sholem drew over 100,000 in its first year and operated in the black. Why can’t Urbana collaborate with CPD? I assume a new Urbana pool will detract from Sholem’s visitors, so how are two separate failing pools possibly operating in the red better than one in the black? Why is Urbana’s proposal more expensive for a smaller pool than Sholem, which will serve a population half that of Champaign’s?
I love my Urbana parks, but this is just too much for too little and I think in the long run a large expenditure like this will hurt any funding requests for other facilities and programs, which would be more beneficial to the community.
Good questions Rob, and good points Anon #1 and Ben Newell. I wish I’d had a chance to consider these before voting. I ended up voting as McColley Sr. and for basically the same reasons, although not without a lot of hesitation, given the grandiosity of the project. What bugs me most though is that this stuff appears on election day. Kacich asked last week for any opponents to contact him (kind of late in the game, I know, but the NG doesn’t really have much competent reporting staff, and he seems a little overstretched) . He ends up with Howard Wakeland who has the usual R landlord type complaints plus onet it shouldn’t be in north Urbana, because growth is to the south (oh really?) My sense is that the Park District folk knew what they were doing in ramming this through.
Yay! The pool won! Here’s to more pool and less mall time for Urbana’s youth.
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Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
And that, my friend, is love. Bob, I think I still owe you for my wedding cake, served in 1998. But nevermind.
I believe the kiss between Rob and I was documented on low-quality videotape in the mid-ninties porn classic, Dirty Harry…and Sticky.
“Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered ‘in.’” You’re in!
Got damn, Coulter. You are the greatest.
I have no specific memory of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d kissed Mike, too—once we’d both drunk ourselves gay. And earlier this week I gave Clarence Shelley a back rub. Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered “in.”
FWIW, I got a copy of the letter in question. It was written in a way that would be plausible to a casual reader who didn’t scrutinize it too carefully. It announced the formation of an organization called G.L.A.B.A. (which actually exists), and had discussion about typical…
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Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
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hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.