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As taxes go down, 2 pools will be closed
By ELISABETH DYER
Published July 6, 2007
Menacing clouds darkened the sky earlier this week, and lifeguards at Baldamero Lopez Pool turned out about two dozen swimmers. Among them, 14-year-old Capri Lofton, babysitting her younger brother and four cousins. The popular cool spot will soon turn out swimmers for good, say city officials. But the kids were unaware. "What?" Capri asked. "Why close our pool?" The city's parks and recreation department is bearing the brunt of cuts to reduce property taxes. By closing Lopez pool and not reopening another, the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Pool, "We should realize about a $40, 000 savings, " Linda Carlo, parks and recreation spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. The news comes after the city recently announced plans to close Bobby Hicks pool for the winter to save about $46, 000 in heating costs. When asked this week for an update on Bobby Hicks, the city's only Olympic-sized pool, Carlo said the pool will close for the season after Labor Day. The Lopez pool will close for good after Labor Day. "We'll be sending letters to our participants to notify them, " Carlo said. Maximum capacity for the pool, which resembles the shape of a key, is 80 and generally draws children. It's 9 feet at the deep end. It is south of the West Tampa Little League complex and north of MacFarlane Park. Nina Stubbs, 26, lives nearby and takes her two kids swimming there. "It's the only one in the area, " she said. "The only one we can walk to." Carlo said both the Riverfront and Lopez pools have mechanical issues and neither are ADA accessible. The Riverfront Pool, north of Tampa Preparatory School, closed for renovations a year ago. Ruth McNair, who lives near Riverfront, wishes Gov. Charlie Crist had come up with another solution, rather than people losing jobs and services. "I think it's kind of a slap in the face to have it closed, " she said. Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 813 226-3321.
[Last modified July 5, 2007, 07:58:19]
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by Dick
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07/12/07 12:27 PM
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How was the city able to keep the pools open, say 5 years ago when tax revenues were much lower than they are today?
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by Kay
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07/09/07 12:56 PM
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All the people who voted for the "penny for pinellas" - thanks a lot - I voted no but would vote yes for a 1% tax to save recreation!
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by Denise
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07/09/07 12:00 AM
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Hey Rick-What about all those people who live in houses or apartments where a pool is not possible? Community is about working TOGETHER for the COMMON good. Why should we isolate ourselves, be selfish and separate?"I GOT MINE!" is SO 80's!
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by Nancy
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07/08/07 07:23 PM
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Comment to Rick, 07/07/07, 6:07PM
Not a "scare tactic", just reality.
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by Lisa
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07/08/07 09:43 AM
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Gee, but the city can spend $1.6 mill on a fountain at the opening to Ybor...in the middle of crack town, put a fence around it and the only people who can see it are the bums! This does not make sense
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by Rick
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07/07/07 06:07 PM
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Good! Maybe the tax savings will allow the families of these children to build their own pools and stop relying on taxpayer dollars for their summer "fun." Get ready readers, this is a typical scare tactic to get citizens to vote "No" on Jan. 29th.
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