To the Editor:
As a long-time resident of Winchester,
I am writing to express my support for a community pool in Winchester. What would a pool add to our town? Here’s a short list of the benefits that could be enjoyed by all our residents:
- a community space where residents of all ages could gather for exercise, recreation, and socializing
- a locus for children’s swim lessons and water safety education
- a long overdue space for the Winchester High School swim team, as well as
- a rentable space for local water-based events
- a therapy pool providing a means for the rehabilitation for our recovering residents and opportunity for low impact exercise for our seniors
- a field house for the high school and town playing fields
- a draw to the downtown area benefiting local businesses and the commercial tax base
Unlike many neighboring communities, Winchester lacks a public swimming pool. It is unfortunate that given the affluence of our community, we have not invested in this asset that would serve all of Winchester’s residents from cradle to grave.
I have read about the neighborhood’s genuine concerns about increased traffic and loss of field space, but I respectfully disagree. As a close neighbor of the Lynch Elementary School, I am particularly sensitive to the sacrifices made by abutting neighbors. However, at Skillings Field maximum pool use would effectively occur during off hours for the high school and fields, minimizing congestion and making it an ideal arrangement. In addition, Swim Winchester is making a concerted effort to preserve as much field space as possible and embellish the current fields with a much needed field house.
A swim facility would be a focal point of a new state-of-the art athletics destination that would enhance our town for generations to come. Finally and importantly, the private-public partnership advocated by Swim Winchester is a smart way of moving this project forward and creating a wonderful asset for all town residents.
Joanna Alexander