Corinne Becker?s July 6 article, “Develop public property for public, not private use,” slams the proposed Towson Swim Center planned at the site of the former Baltimore County detention center.
But Becker argues three points that just don?t add up:
1. The project is a “done deal” with little public input and accomplished behind closed doors:
As a member of the pool committee, one of our primary concerns was getting the word out to the entire Towson community.
We formed a volunteer marketing committee; we went door- to-door spreading the word about it; and we held a well-advertised community meeting attended by hundredsof people.
Council Member Vince Gardina held an open meeting, as did Robert Barrett, director of the Department of Recreation and Parks, to take community input about the proposal and hear other suggestions for the site.
The overwhelming majority of Towson residents that responded to the proposal said they wanted a community run pool and community center on the former jail site.
No county decision has been made; the process will continue since there will be at least one more Recreation and Parks public meeting.
2. The pool and community center would benefit a very small number of people at exclusionary prices, and would not serve the public at large:
Two thousand people (mostly children) being served by a 1.75-acre property on a hill at no cost to the county that then generates lease income for other Recreation and Parks programs seems like a pretty good balance.
And that?s before the warden?s house, also located on the property, is renovated!
The exclusionary prices Becker discusses are the $500 plus annual family dues and one-time (hopefully refundable) membership fee that pay for the construction costs to build the pool, bathrooms and federal disability compliance items.
The county can?t build it for us.
If built, the pool would be run by the community for the community and costs would be kept as low as possible.
3. Though the swim club has proposed several free outreach programs ? it?s not enough of a public good and it?s possibly ethically wrong:
We?re not sure what?s ethically wrong with free swim lessons for needy children, discounted memberships to seniors, camp swim days for disabled children and Parks and Recreation community days.
As a Towson resident and mother of two, I strongly support the idea of building a privately funded community pool on the former jail site.
The proximity to many neighborhoods would make it a community asset.
There is a real need for a community pool, as proven by the multiple year waiting lists at other area pools.
The pool will become a central gathering place for recreation where people can get together, build friendships and memories.
It is a good idea for all of Towson.
The county sheds the expense and security headache of a poorly utilized pocket park.
The downtown restaurants and shops gain by having dozens of families arriving on the edge of downtown every summer day.
Finally, all businesses gain by being situated in what is, clearly, a strong and vibrant community.
We believe that our proposal empowers the community and creates a public good without tax dollars that would not exist otherwise.
Ms. Bolster is a Towson resident and business owner. She is a member of the Towson Swim Center committee.
