I agree with earlier posts that the pool design needs to be modified. As Betsy stated above that because the pool only has one filtration system any modifications will be veryexpensive. Even so, I think as a neighborhood we need to further investigate our options. Our pool and our neighborhood will be here for many years to come and I think the investment to correct the pool design is worthwhile - at a minimum we need transparency as to what options are available, the cost, and who would pay for them.
Options? there have to be several options, what are the costs of those options? I have only heard through the grapevine, that a pool remodel would cost $100,000, but have no details. Is that the "ideal" solution and/or is there a possibly a more affordable but sufficient work around? Or two or three options?
Who would pay? I feel the developer should take on some of the financial responsibility and front some of the costs to correct the poor design. As a resident who wants to enjoy the pool for many, many years to come, I would welcome a increase in POA dues to partially fund a remodel. If there are 400 residents that agree to $5/month increase, that is an additional $24,000/year to pay for this pool redesign.
I know that suggesting an increase in dues seems "unfair" - especially because many people believe that all of this inconvenience is because of parents who don't diaper children property. As a parent who was extra careful diapering/buying special swim diapers for my children when they were toddlers, I've unfortunately had a child have an accident in a pool. As they say this "happens". We can place blame all day but that won't change the pool design and make me feel better when I see the closed sign on the pool.
Also, the new phase will probably bring around 200 new families, many with toddlers to our pool next spring. These issues aren't going away. Families love to swim and our pool is an amazing part of this neighborhood that toddlers, adults and all should enjoy.
I'd like to take action, at a minimum have discussions with purpose, but do not know how to do this. We have valuable resources - the MNA, Jennifer Harvey, POA, Pool Committee - how do we come together to explore our options so that all voices are heard, not just the voices of residents that are posting on this site?
I agree completely with Lori. I depend on our pool for the summer fun it provides for my family as well as for the lap swimming I personally do for exercise. I'd be happy to help out in any way that I can to look at the options for upgrading the pool design to create two different water systems, so that one could remain open even though the other needed to be closed.
Another issue that would need to be looked at would be how the one side could be securely closed off when it needed treatment so that there wouldn't be liability issues for the Poa.
I also feel that it is worth the cost upfront now to rectify the situation. It is such an important amenity to our neighborhood, and currently it is the only one of its kind in our neighborhood.
I so hope this is something that could be done. However, I imagine any response from Jennifer Harvey will be to wait for the next pool that is supposedly coming. I imagine they won't make the same mistake, but then again, they are still putting up the same badly designed street lights, so....we'll see. I sort of remembered the mentioning of a splash pad? Maybe I was dreaming.
i bring this up because when I asked Jennifer is there was a plan to shade the Ella Wooten play area, explaining that it is too hot to use pretty much all summer in the day and that the trees are planted so that they will shade the part that already has the shade structures, not the unshaded, molten lava part with the stairs to get on the playscape.
To paraphrase, she told me it was planned for no more shade then it has and if it is too sunny I should go across airport and go to Patterson park. Very useful, Jennifer. Thanks.
I think we are trying to solve the wrong problem Why make it so complicated and expensive Rules about babies in swim diapers and fines to cover chemicals for violations Why not address the the issue directly rather than such anexpensive solution
One policy the pool could adapt is a double swim diaper policy and the pool could make available non-disposable swim diapers for sale (or widely available at Target, Whole Foods, online, etc) and lifeguards could check with parents & caregivers to make sure each child is adequately diapered.
Other professional pool require that children under 2 and not completely potty trained must wear a snug fitting non-disposable swim diaper or rubber pants (like what cloth diaper babies wear) over a disposable diaper.
According the CDC, no swim diaper holds fecal material beyond 3-5 minutes, so by double diapering, the hope is to get at least 5 minutes of protection, enough to check the diaper and get out of the pool.
