As the City of Danville looked to set pricing for admission to the Danville Aquatic Center at Garfield Park, resident Colin Osterbur asked the council to consider who the pool is for.
“I looked over the pool pricing schedule and was encouraged to see that the pool parties were back this year. I think those were a great way to celebrate over the summer and I know I’ve spent many birthdays there,” Osterbur said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “Looking at the family membership, I am guessing that my family of four might just have one of these this summer. It made me wonder though, who is this public pool serving?”
Osterbur said the pool most likely has the greatest appeal to area youth, but with 75% of District 118’s 5,000 students living in low-income households, many may not be able to afford the $8 daily admission fee.
“It makes me question how those kids are being served,” Osterbur said. “There is a discounted rate for nonprofits, which is something. I would guess the Boys and Girls Club would be the largest group to utilize this and they serve around 200 kids. We are still left with a vast majority of students in this community who I question whether they have the means to utilize the public pool, so I ask this council to include in their discussion how these disenfranchised kids are served.”
His suggestion, offer a discounted rate for students to make it more affordable for parents to take their children to the pool in the summer. At $8 per person for admission, Osterbur said many families could spend $50 just for one day at the pool.
“I just wonder if everyone has those means to do that on a regular basis,” he said. “Maybe we could pass out free vouchers to all of the students in the district. I remember as a kid at the end of the school year right before summer I would get a voucher for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. That made my summer. I was so excited to go use that thing … so maybe the same concept could be done with a free pool pass for every district student. Maybe a pass for their family so they could go once or twice and enjoy the great pool that we have.”
Vice Mayor Tricia Teague told the council they should consider instituting one of Osterbur’s suggestions.
“When I grew up I was within walking distance of Garfield Pool. I remember being a kid and taking my own money and going to Garfield Pool with my little sister and going to swim,” she said. “I believe that $8 is a lot for a kid, and if we are not going to change the fee schedule then I think we could at least look into the possibility of doing something for our school district children since they are in our city and this is really who the pool is for. To be able to allow them the opportunity to go at a discounted rate of some sort, I think that is a wonderful suggestion.”
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr., agreed.
“One of the things that I thought, as Mr. Osterbur was speaking, is maybe we could partner with the district in terms of AR reading goals and maybe if the students are able to meet their AR reading goals or something that would be a way to help inspire them maybe to read, and maybe that would help our teachers and such out.”
Williams called it positive behavioral reinforcement.
While the council moved forward voting 12-0 in favor of the summer fee schedule for the pool, they agreed to speak with District 118 administrators to discuss what, if anything could be done to alleviate some of the financial burden on families and still allow students to enjoy the pool.
Senior Swim
Children are not the only ones enjoying the city’s new pool, Susan Willaman thanked the council for upgrading the pool and setting aside time for Senior Swim.
“Last year at the end of the year, we did Senior Swim and I just want you to know, from my perspective, it was really wonderful,” she said. “I used to go to Garfield Pool back in the day. What you did was absolutely wonderful. It reminded me of driving to Champaign and going to the pool.
“I want you to know there were a few people there that had disabilities and they were very, very grateful to be able to go where there weren’t a bunch of kids around … it’s fun to have kids, but it’s also fun to go be with your peers.”
Willaman said by attending Senior Swim, she was able to make a new and dear friend.
“It was enjoyable, the staff was good. It was very nice,” she said. “I hope you will consider doing (having Senior Swim) again.
“There are a lot of us that are really happy that we have a pool still.”