The Norman Transcript

Letters

Discussion

September 23, 2012

Community aquatic complex needed

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

You recently characterized our group, the Pisces Project, as “patiently pushing a new community aquatic complex.” We welcome your observations on Sept. 9 that it’s time to think about quality of life projects for Norman and how to fund them.

It is no longer enough to rely just on the University of Oklahoma to attract visitors and jobs to Norman. And as you point out, the Oklahoma City MAPS program, with its public investment in entertainment and education, has been phenomenally successful in drawing jobs, visitors and — most importantly — private investment to Oklahoma City.

Norman is no longer a small, sleepy college town. It is one of the largest cities in the state and the region, and it’s falling behind. In a recent survey by Money magazine, both Edmond and Moore were ranked higher than Norman as desirable places in the nation in which to live.

While the Norman School Board and city council have been telling us for seven years that the money is not there to build or operate a year-round swim facility, Edmond, Stillwater and Ponca City have moved forward to raise the capital and build their own. The aging Westwood Pool consistently shows a profit. That profit was almost 18 percent greater than its operating expenses in 2011.

The benefits of having Westwood pool available for nine weeks of the year is much more than a $36,399 boost to the city’s general fund. Seven hundred and forty-two children learned to swim in 2011. Day care facilities brought children to the pool in the afternoons. Local athletes had a pool for their workouts.

Groups rented the pool for parties as the Pisces Project just did — and the annual Pooch Pool Party was well attended. With an attendance of 28,053 swimmers, hundreds of kids and adults enjoyed a refreshing slide into water on a hot day.

If a minor investment in a nine-week pool can yield such benefits, imagine what Norman could do if it offered its citizens pools available year-round for recreation, aerobics, instruction and fitness.

In the Sept.11th Norman Transcript, Gov. Mary Fallin discussed at length the problem of childhood obesity and the need for active lifestyles. For those with diabetes and asthma, swimming is a preferred activity.

According to the CDC, swimming provides great benefits for mental health and autism patients. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends 20 minutes of exercise per day.

Imagine the impression that a new swim center and water park would make to visitors and prospective businesses about the quality of life in Norman. Imagine the economic benefit to Norman of hosting state and sectional swim meets. And imagine how nice it would be for Money magazine and others to recognize what a truly great place Norman is.

Pisces Project

DIANE MOERSHEL, NANCY YOCH,

EDDIE BARON, DALLAS SCHREMS,

HEATHER PERRY, KENT NICHOLSON

Norman

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Letters
  • City doesn’t need to spend $521K for enhancements

    Editor: The Transcript: I read reporter Joy Hampton’s report on June 12 regarding the recent city council meeting. After picking my jaw up from the table, I thought I must have misread the article. Surely it had to be a misprint that the ...

    June 19, 2013

  • Recent lawsuit was frivolous

    Editor, The Transcript: I have been a lawyer for more than 50 years and have seen many changes in our judiciary, most of which I have disliked. Since the time I was sworn into the bar, our society has become more litigious, thinking that ...

    June 18, 2013

  • Highway projects are wasteful

    Editor, The Transcript:   The transfer of moneys from the private sector to the government, by use of taxation, for example, should not be expected to affect economies. Both entities spend the money on jobs and on goods and services. Who ...

    June 16, 2013

  • California is doing just fine

    Editor, The Transcript: George Will owes California an apology for his numerous columns predicting the state’s impending collapse because of gross mismanagement of public funds....

    June 15, 2013

  • Plan leaves you high, dry

    Editor, The Transcript: Living in Oklahoma, being an “at will” employee is pretty common. If you are not familiar with the term, it simply means that the boss can fire you whenever he wants. This may apply to you and you don’t even know ...

    June 15, 2013

  • We make it easy for storms

    Editor, The Transcript: If we look at how the average house is constructed here, we see how easily tornados destroy them. Walls are framed together with nails. When the walls are erected, that puts all of the nails in a vertical position....

    June 15, 2013

  • Orwell mistitled novel ‘1984’

    Editor, The Transcript: Obama as Sgt. Schultz: Personally, I’d like to think he (Obama) is just that. However; unhappily, I believe just the opposite. His communist upbringing, Muslim background and Saul Alinsky ties plus his in-depth ...

    June 14, 2013

  • Spend your time wisely

    Someone once wrote “Time, you thief,” And we know what that does mean. It seems the days go flying by — Never more to be seen. Don’t leave those needed words unsaid, And don’t forget it’s fun to play....

    June 13, 2013

  • Thank you to city workers

    Editor, The Transcript: As a resident in central Norman, I want to thank our garbage pickup workers for their extra attention to picking up storm damage today and each time we have storm damage. The workers had already picked up what I ...

    June 9, 2013

  • Public not fooled by GOP’s ‘mind tricks’

    Editor, The Transcript: After reading last Sunday’s “Your View” letter from one of our resident conservative whiners accusing The Transcript of assaulting Republicans by presenting a different view than his, I feel a response is ...

    June 9, 2013