In a significant move towards modernizing the city’s recreational water facilities, Dallas Park and Recreation officials recently recommended the closure of two of the city’s oldest community pools. This decision comes in light of a thorough analysis and strategic long-term planning aimed at improving aquatic services across Dallas.
Back in 2017, the Dallas voters approved bond funds for the construction of new public swimming pools for the first time in over fifty years. Since then, the city has invested more than $75 million in modern aquatic centers designed to serve its residents for decades.
This revitalized focus on aquatic facilities emerged from the city’s Aquatic Facilities Master Plan, which was the culmination of over six years of research and public engagement. The plan highlighted that maintaining the city’s aging network of neighborhood pools was financially unsustainable.
Dallas’s legacy pools, dating as far back as 1947, have drastically lost utility and visitor numbers, often serving only a handful of swimmers each day.
As City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins proposed the pool closures, they faced the challenge of demographic shifts and maintenance costs. The decision, although not easy, aligned with extensive research demonstrating that operating traditional neighborhood pools is far less effective than investing in larger, multi-functional aquatic centers.
In fact, legacy pools have shown a staggering recovery rate of less than 20% of their operating costs, contrasting sharply with the higher revenue generated by the newer regional aquatic centers. The closure of underperforming facilities reflects a commitment to enhancing community access while being fiscally responsible.
Historically, Dallas’s approach to building neighborhood pools has been complicated by issues related to racial segregation. The efforts led by the parks director L.B. Houston in the mid-20th century aimed to provide access to swimming facilities across diverse communities, though often at the cost of equitable access.
The legacy of segregation in pool access remains a sensitive topic when discussing closures. Decisions made in the past still resonate in the conversations around how to provide equitable aquatic recreation for all Dallas residents, irrespective of race or socio-economic status.
During his tenure as president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, the task was ensuring that the new facilities would address inadequate swimming proficiency, particularly in southern Dallas, where children face higher drowning risks.
With the recent recommendation to close older pools, the Park and Recreation team is following the long-standing vision set forth in the Aquatic Facilities Master Plan, which aims for a hybrid model of service that emphasizes quality and accessibility.
The current facilities, such as Crawford, Fretz, Samuell Grand, Lake Highlands, and Bachman Lake, have adapted well to meet modern recreational needs. With amenities like lazy rivers, slides, and climbing walls, these centers are attracting families from across the city, generating increased revenue per visit and fostering a sense of community.
Even as some neighborhoods face the reality of losing their aging local pools, it is crucial to remember that equitable access to modern aquatic amenities is on the rise. Since 2018, multiple new centers have opened their doors, significantly improving the landscape of aquatic recreation in Dallas.
As part of this strategic shift, the city government is also considering solutions to transportation and access challenges, including shuttle programs and partnerships with local schools.
Ultimately, closing underutilized facilities is a decision rooted in ensuring that taxpayer money is spent effectively and that aquatic services are aligned where they can best meet community needs.
The recent actions of city leadership should be recognized as a necessary step toward sustainable recreation, even if they might not resonate positively with every resident. It is crucial to focus on the data-driven decisions that prioritize the long-term benefits of aquatic access for all residents.
In a city where legacy pools have been seen as neighborhood icons, the transition to a more efficient aquatic model is both a challenging and necessary endeavor. As the city moves forward, it honors the importance of providing safe and accessible swimming experiences for future generations.
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