The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Pool group not drying out Deck: Committee will reconvene in 2005

The Carbondale Aquatic Center Committee has splashed the community with slogans and pool vendors, and committee member Tom Corpora said even though the group still has a lot of work ahead, it would not slow down.

"In Carbondale and the surrounding area, we've created an initial presence," Corpora said. Recently, the committee invited three professional pool companies to speak to the community about the possibility of getting a public pool or aquatic center in Carbondale. The pool project is a measure to foster race relations the city plannedon taking. The Committee, which was previously known as the Carbondale Community Swimming Pool Action Group, is one of several action groups that run under the Human Relations Commission and were created through the Carbondale Conversations for Community Action. "All the presenters provided examples of community projects that were similar in scope to the demographics and number of people in this area," Corpora said. "I thought it was helpful that we could actually see other communities that have accomplished something very similar to what we want to create." The group, which HRC commissioner Sam Goldman said is on the fast track, has been meeting since June 2004 and aims to complete the process by June 2006. "The date is important to continue to identify the next steps," Corpora said. However, Corpora said the group would not meet again until January 2005, and an exact date has not yet been set. At the last presentation, Sally Wright, Recreation Center Assistant Director and pool committee member, said the group has many questions that still need to be answered, such as how to get funding and management issues.

However, Corpora said the presentation did help the group because they were extremely informative. "There was no one that came to a meeting that expressed objection at this point," Corpora said. In 1998, the city had a study on the feasibility of building a community pool in the area. While the pool group has looked over the old study, Corpora said another feasibility study would have to be done to get updated numbers. The site the group is looking to obtain is a 16-acre plot owned by the Carbondale Park District and adjacent to the Superblock. However, there has been no official discussion between the group and the park district. "This is a conversation that has been around for many years," Corpora said. "I think with addition of the Superblock as a neutral territory, it really makes sense as an ideal location." Furthermore, City Councilwoman Maggie Flanagan said she wants to see a pool for Carbondale in the works before she retires from the council in April 2005. In fact, Corpora said the group's next action is to provide City Council members with information on the work they have done and answer questions. In addition, Corpora said there are many more tasks ahead of the committee. One of which, he said, was visiting pools or water parks in other communities. "There is a commitment, this time, to actually make this project happen," Corpora said.

 

 

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