100 signatures reached
To: Newton Residents
Expanding the Gath Pool Facilities Study
This campaign has ended.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller recently emailed about an upcoming facilities study for the Gath Pool. She noted that the pool is a "critical city-wide recreational resource" used by "at least 30,000 people each summer". On April 13th, the Newton Parks, Recreation, & Culture Department and the Newton Public Buildings Department will submit a proposal for an in-depth facilities study to investigate the cost and feasibility of improving the main pool, kiddie pool, mechanical pump & filtration systems, and pool decks. The current proposal as presented in Mayor Fuller's email does not include studying the many other improvements that could be possible. After April 13th, it maybe too late to advocate for additional improvements.
We strongly encourage the City of Newton to use this as an opportunity to go beyond making needed infrastructure changes and conduct a more comprehensive, thoughtful review of the features and qualities that can help change the fabric of our community and make Newton an even more appealing, welcoming community. An informed decision about the future of the Gath Pool can only be made once residents, the Mayor, and City Councilors, Departments, and Committees know the cost of all possible improvements. The residents included in this petition urge the City of Newton to study the cost and feasibility of the following items:
A diving pool
A lap pool
All purpose pool with fun features (slides, rope swings, climbing wall)
Snack bar with picnic tables
Zero entry kiddie pool with water features & railing for residents with mobility concerns
More shade & more grass
More seating; lounge chairs & bringing your own chair
Heated pool
Multiple groups using the pool simultaneously
Main entrance that takes you to the pool deck and not the locker room
Locker room upgrade
Gender neutral changing spaces
Longer hours and longer season
We strongly encourage the City of Newton to use this as an opportunity to go beyond making needed infrastructure changes and conduct a more comprehensive, thoughtful review of the features and qualities that can help change the fabric of our community and make Newton an even more appealing, welcoming community. An informed decision about the future of the Gath Pool can only be made once residents, the Mayor, and City Councilors, Departments, and Committees know the cost of all possible improvements. The residents included in this petition urge the City of Newton to study the cost and feasibility of the following items:
A diving pool
A lap pool
All purpose pool with fun features (slides, rope swings, climbing wall)
Snack bar with picnic tables
Zero entry kiddie pool with water features & railing for residents with mobility concerns
More shade & more grass
More seating; lounge chairs & bringing your own chair
Heated pool
Multiple groups using the pool simultaneously
Main entrance that takes you to the pool deck and not the locker room
Locker room upgrade
Gender neutral changing spaces
Longer hours and longer season
Why is this important?
Community pools can be a nexus of community life by providing not only recreational and exercise opportunities, but also a welcoming place to gather, work, learn, relax, and build community. While the Gath pool is enjoyed by many, certain features including separate entrances for the different parts of the pool, the lack of seating, shade and grass, and the limited recreational features, limit the potential of the pool to become a center of community life. If the new, renovated Gath Pool included even one of the ideas above, it would a vast improvement!
Since the City of Newton will solicit public comment only after the facilities study is complete, this petition maybe our only opportunity to ask for an expanded facilities study to explore the cost of creating a more inviting, community hub. Let's ask the City of Newton to use this opportunity to explore the creation of a community facility where Newton residents want to spend the day visiting with neighbors, meeting new friends, enjoying a picnic, relaxing in the shade or sun, and, most of all, swimming.
Since the City of Newton will solicit public comment only after the facilities study is complete, this petition maybe our only opportunity to ask for an expanded facilities study to explore the cost of creating a more inviting, community hub. Let's ask the City of Newton to use this opportunity to explore the creation of a community facility where Newton residents want to spend the day visiting with neighbors, meeting new friends, enjoying a picnic, relaxing in the shade or sun, and, most of all, swimming.