To: Richard Barlow, Chair, Board of Selectmen, Canton CT
Major upgrade to Mills Pond Pool facility
Richard Barlow
First Selectman, Town of Canton
4 Market Street
Collinsville, CT 06022
Delivered via email
Dear Mr. Barlow,
I am writing to encourage you and the Board of Selectmen to support a major upgrade of our town's pool facilities at Mills Pond, specifically the replacement of our 50-meter pool. Given the current low interest rate environment, we have a unique opportunity to affordably finance important quality of life projects that will benefit our community for future generations.
I am one of nearly 100 parents of a swimmer on the Dusky Dolphin Summer Swim Team. I have watched the pool emerge from a little utilized summer recreational facility to a vibrant center of community activity. The overall condition of the pool, however, threatens not only the viability of the swim team, but the overall quality of life benefits the pool provides for Canton.
Additionally, the pool - properly supported and organized–is a tremendous revenue opportunity. Competitive swimming is one example, but an obvious one. There are very limited 50 meter pool facilities in Connecticut, yet there is great demand for such facilities to host team practices and competitive swim meets. These meets attract thousands of swimmers and significant potential pool revenues through rental fees, concession stand sales, entry fees, etc...; not to mention the dollars spent in our community before, during, and after these events. We are perfectly located to attract our fair market share of these events as the closest facilities are in East Hartford, Cheshire, and Middletown.
A recent pool study recommended that the pool ultimately be replaced. While we can continue to make repairs–some required by code and public safety–the reality is that these repairs only delay the inevitable replacement of the pool itself. Given our ability to finance a complete rebuild at historically low financing costs, now is the time to take more aggressive action.
More broadly, a vibrant aquatics facility will enhance our overall economic vitality. People want to live where they can sustain a high quality of life, and businesses locate where they can attract quality employees and/or access new customers. Quality community facilities, therefore, should be an important component of our economic development initiatives.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
cc: David Gilchrist, Selectman
Lowell Humphrey, Selectman
Kevin Jackson, Chair, Economic Development Agency
Richard Ohanesian, Chair, Board of Finance
Stephen Roberto, Selectman
Thomas Sevigny, Selectman
First Selectman, Town of Canton
4 Market Street
Collinsville, CT 06022
Delivered via email
Dear Mr. Barlow,
I am writing to encourage you and the Board of Selectmen to support a major upgrade of our town's pool facilities at Mills Pond, specifically the replacement of our 50-meter pool. Given the current low interest rate environment, we have a unique opportunity to affordably finance important quality of life projects that will benefit our community for future generations.
I am one of nearly 100 parents of a swimmer on the Dusky Dolphin Summer Swim Team. I have watched the pool emerge from a little utilized summer recreational facility to a vibrant center of community activity. The overall condition of the pool, however, threatens not only the viability of the swim team, but the overall quality of life benefits the pool provides for Canton.
Additionally, the pool - properly supported and organized–is a tremendous revenue opportunity. Competitive swimming is one example, but an obvious one. There are very limited 50 meter pool facilities in Connecticut, yet there is great demand for such facilities to host team practices and competitive swim meets. These meets attract thousands of swimmers and significant potential pool revenues through rental fees, concession stand sales, entry fees, etc...; not to mention the dollars spent in our community before, during, and after these events. We are perfectly located to attract our fair market share of these events as the closest facilities are in East Hartford, Cheshire, and Middletown.
A recent pool study recommended that the pool ultimately be replaced. While we can continue to make repairs–some required by code and public safety–the reality is that these repairs only delay the inevitable replacement of the pool itself. Given our ability to finance a complete rebuild at historically low financing costs, now is the time to take more aggressive action.
More broadly, a vibrant aquatics facility will enhance our overall economic vitality. People want to live where they can sustain a high quality of life, and businesses locate where they can attract quality employees and/or access new customers. Quality community facilities, therefore, should be an important component of our economic development initiatives.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
cc: David Gilchrist, Selectman
Lowell Humphrey, Selectman
Kevin Jackson, Chair, Economic Development Agency
Richard Ohanesian, Chair, Board of Finance
Stephen Roberto, Selectman
Thomas Sevigny, Selectman
Why is this important?
To encourage the Board of Selectmen to support a major upgrade of our town's pool facilities at Mills Pond, specifically the replacement of our 50-meter pool. Given the current low interest rate environment, we have a unique opportunity to affordably finance important quality of life projects that will benefit our community for future generations.