To: Iowa City Council
Help Us Save the Historic Robert A. Lee Pool in the Heart of Iowa City
Iowa City’s Recreation Master Plan calls for the closure of the Robert A. Lee (RAL) pool; we strongly oppose this plan.
Join Our Cause
We ask for your support to stop the closure and to instead invest in the repair and revitalization of the Robert A. Lee pool, an essential source of community connection and healthful exercise for the residents of Iowa City and beyond.
Please join our efforts to save this fundamental and treasured public resource and sign this petition today.
Why is this important?
Who We Are and What We Stand For
Friends of RAL Pool was born out of a grass-roots effort to support geographically distributed, accessible, and affordable municipal indoor aquatics in Iowa City.
- We advocate for the repair and preservation of the historic RAL pool and oppose its closure.
- We believe removing the RAL pool, the nationally recognized Rec Center’s primary attraction, would set the stage for the facility’s ultimate demise as well as the special community it has nurtured for generations.
- We believe the RAL pool is a vital resource that makes Iowa City’s downtown uniquely livable, supports its workers and economy, sustains the wellbeing of people of all ages, and cultivates community connections in the heart of the city.
- We have shown that the Iowa City Parks and Recreation’s intentions ignore its own goals, data, and survey results. In contrast, revitalization of the RAL pool aligns with Iowa City’s Strategic Plan values, supports recreation and transportation goals, and upholds sustainability and environmental principles of historic preservation and 15-Minute Cities.
Why We Oppose the Closure
- Repairs cost significantly less than a new pool. The City’s plan calls for spending substantially more money to add a smaller, less-versatile, warm-water pool at Mercer Park Aquatic Center, despite a lack of community support. The RAL pool already provides what citizens want. Repairing and preserving this historic facility is the fiscally responsible solution.
- Audit shows robust use. An extensive audit of pool attendance shows that the accessible and affordable RAL pool is highly preferred for recreational use and has verified attendance rates that far surpass those represented in official reports.
- Citizens value aquatics. During development of the Recreation Master Plan, citizens ranked indoor aquatics as one of the most important places to invest in facilities and identified aquatics programs as a growth opportunity. Additionally, the City’s own recreation goals include providing resources that promote active living, lifelong fitness, and healthy lifestyles. These arguments don’t support closing any pool.
- Location matters. Public input also verified that the RAL pool’s downtown location is preferred over a shift to the Mercer facility, far from Iowa City’s center. The RAL pool central position provides quick and easy access by walking, biking, or one bus ride via the City’s nearby transit hub. Right-sized, easily accessed pools like RAL are models of efficient and responsible public recreation services.
For more information and ways you can help, go to saveRALpool.com
NOTE: We are not soliciting donations via this petition. Any resulting requests for donations are for the benefit of MoveOn.org, NOT the Friends of RAL Pool.