Fifty-three percent of the homes surveyed by KTC Research of Charlotte in December supported building a new pool in that area of town, while 25 percent wanted the existing pool renovated.
About 52 percent of those surveyed viewed having a new pool as a “great need,” while 77 percent saw it as being of “some need.”
Derek Williams of Site Solutions of Charlotte and Russ Angelo, a Charlotte architect, are working with a task force of local residents appointed by the Town Council to develop a master plan for aquatic recreation.
The seven-member task force and the consultants are conducting research and seeking public input. The master plan will include recommendations on the types of facilities and programs residents want and how to pay for them.
The task force held a public input meeting last week to present the results of the survey and hear comments from interested residents. A handful of 28 people attending the information-input meeting were from the general public. Many were there in an official capacity, such as task force members, town employees and the consultants.
The comments from the meeting and the results of the survey will be used to develop a draft plan. Another public input meeting will be held in a couple of months on the draft plan, before it is submitted to the Town Council.
“What, where, and how to pay for it is what we’re working to determine,” said Assistant Town Manner David White.
There is no money in a capital reserve fund currently for a new swimming pool or other types of aquatic recreation facilities.
Southern Pines Mayor Pro Tem Fred Walden said he wants to see what the master plan recommends before the council makes any decisions on what to do. “It has to be paid for somehow,” he said.
Learning to Swim Important
“The majority are looking towards a new pool,” Williams said, “particularly families with children. But they don’t say where they want it.”
Eighty-two percent of those surveyed said their top priority for a town pool is providing children with a place to learn to swim. About the same percentage indicated that there should be a kiddie-toddler wading pool.
About 61 percent want the pool to have a graduated walk-in entry, similar to entering the ocean. Forty-five percent want a pool with lap lanes and leisure areas, and 44 percent want it to be a heated pool. Thirty-three percent want a splash and spray pool area and a soft play area with water features allowing children to run around. About 24 percent want a 50-meter competition type pool.
Sixty-four percent of those surveyed did not use a pool at all in the last 12 months, while 36 percent did. Twenty-six percent said they used the private, Southern Pines Elks Club pool. Eighteen percent of pool users went to the Pool Park in the last 12 months.
The questionnaire also asked how people favored paying for a new pool.
About 74 percent suggested paying with user fees, followed by 62 percent who wanted to use property tax revenues. About 59 percent advocated a bond issue or borrowing money to build a facility. About 25 percent supported paying higher taxes to fund it.
Current Pool Needs Work
The existing pool built more than 40 years ago under the town’s ownership is in West Southern Pines in an area known as the “Clay Hole.”
One possible location for a new pool would be near the intersection of Henley Street and Morganton Road, a few blocks from the existing pool. The town owns land in that area, White said. Morganton Road is one of the town’s main corridors.
It would be simpler and less costly to build a new pool and aquatic recreation complex in that location, according to the consultants, than rehabilitating the existing pool.
There are several unknowns involved in repairing the existing pool that could increase the costs, such as replacing the underground water lines as well as exterior concrete to make it safer.
The survey asked residents how much they would be willing to spend to help the town pay for major new capital improvements. About 37 percent of households would be willing to spend $50 or more per year for either option of building a new pool or rehabilitating the existing one, Williams said.
About 57 percent of those surveyed, would be willing to spend at least $25 annually, the survey said.
Among those who advocated renovating the current pool park, 39 percent said they would be willing to pay a $5 user fee.
Shawn Berry, young mother, said the only thing children in West Southern Pines have to do in the summer is swim.
“We’re working when they’re out of school,” she said. “Their families don’t go on vacations. I don’t have $3 each to get my children to the pool every day. I’d love to keep it in the area. It’s within walking distance for us.”
Former town Councilwoman Marquita Daniels also felt that a $5 user fee was too much for larger families to pay.
“Maybe for older people that fee is OK,” she said.
Alfonso Knight, who has five children, said he prefers keeping the pool at its present site rather than building one farther away. He said he would rather see the money used for fixing the present pool park. He said it “would be too expensive” to build a new pool elsewhere.
Task force member Barbara Childress, a native of Southern Pines, said in the past the present pool suffered from vandalism.
“I don’t have a problem using the existing pool if its safe for kids and clean,” she said.
But Childress said the section of town where the pool is now is “scary.” She mentioned well-publicized drug problems in that part of the town.
Knight said the Southern Pines Elks Club pool on the opposite side of town is private and costs “big bucks” to swim if someone isn’t a member of the country club. He also chided Childress for labeling West Southern Pines as a “a drug area.”
Meet Needs of Everyone
The Town Council initially decided last May to close the pool park, mainly because of declining usage. The pool also needed extensive repairs to meet health and safety codes.
West Southern Pines residents persuaded the council to reverse its decision and keep the pool open. The council spent $53,000 this year to repair the existing pool to bring it up to health and safety codes. The town has to hire a manager and certified lifeguards.
The pool opened in mid-August for an abbreviated swimming season. About 1,100 people swam there during the month it was open, White said.
Town Manager Reagan Parsons said it’s hard to find qualified lifeguards for the pool.
More work will be needed if the town continues to use the existing pool, according to White. The town plans to reopen the pool this summer, he said.
“Kids like the pool,” said Tessie Carpenter, president of the West Southern Pines Civic Club. “They’re already talking about going swimming next summer.
“If the public aquatic facility is under one umbrella, one building, we can spend the same money and get a bigger apple by bringing in more people. All children in Southern Pines deserve access to equal facilities.
Angelo, the architect, said, “Let’s find out what is right to build, that people are going to use. There’s a lot of history to the old pool, and we’re going to have a challenge in making it look new. A new pool site, if chosen, will make it easier, but it will still be expensive,” he said.
Task force member James Moore said, “Bring the pool up to standard, make it useable for all citizens of Southern Pines. If (white) people chose not to use it for 40 years, that’s their choice. We ought to meet the needs for everyone, adults and children.”
Sara Lindau can be reached at 693-2473 or by e-mail at slindau@thepilot.com.
