COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – With the operation in the red by over $300,000 per year, Coldwater Community Schools officials are working with the city and others to find a way to keep the Dr. Robert W. Browne Aquatic Center open.
The late Dr. Brown donated money for the construction of the aquatic center on Western Avenue. It is owned by the City of Coldwater, with operation and maintenance handled by the school district.
Board of Education President Dr. Ed Lake says board members have had conversations with city officials over expenses and ways to increase revenue. Superintendent Paul Flynn says of nine school districts he surveyed that have pools, all are losing money on their operation too. Flynn says Coldwater is in a unique situation, since the school district doesn’t own the aquatic center.
Lake says there has been a concern over a lack of lifeguards, which has resulted in reduced hours at times. While the pool is used by the high school’s two swim teams and some classes, only about 50 individual memberships are currently in place.
In addition to losing money on the operating costs, the district has recently paid $112,000 to replace the boiler for the building.
Lake says discussions will continue with city and Coldwater Township officials about possible funding sources to maintain the operation.
The pool has been such an asset to our community and especially to the school. My granddaughter was on the swim team and we definitely had one of the best facilities! Hopefully our community can pull together so we can keep the pool open.
I told you so! I told you so! On the bright side, the taxpayers have a new 3 1/2 million dollar bus garage to pay for Ms. Wheland insisted on they didn’t want and a bunch of new schools but can’t maintain what they have had for years. THAT is Terry Wheland legacy, and she is so proud of it!
Glad we rejected her hard push for a ridiculously overbuilt high school.
The pool is a great resource for the community, particularly those with disabilities. We use the pool on a regular basis during fall and winter and have noted, as have others, that weekend closures prevent access to working families with children who would have time to visit the pool during that time. It would be unfortunate were the community to lose this valuable recreational opportunity.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my view!!!! I do the wAter aerobics 3 days a week!!!! I LOVE IT!!! So do hope that some funds can be found to keep the open!!!!
The pool is essential for 1. The use of the schools to participate in swim and dive competitions that will build a foundation for life-long fitness by swimming for exercise, 2. Provide essential outlet for adults to perform the ultimate full-body, low impact exercise for health and fitness, 3. To enable Coldwater to compete on a national scale to attract commerce and the involved families. 4. To help our students prepare for enriched college sport opportunities. 5. To give our other athletes an opportunity for full-body workouts.