SoWal needs a public pool

The city of Freeport built that pool, and I'm not sure the county has the interest to do the same in an area where it seems like every subdivision has its own pool. Which is a shame because there just isn't a real place for lessons or competitive swimming right now unless you trek to Frank Brown Park in PCB.

It seems like there would be room over by the high school. You can build a perfectly nice six lane competition pool with splash/zero entry area to the side on less than an acre.

I know there are many subdivisions with pools, but most of those are resort subdivisions where people do not live year round. What may be needed is a place for residents to swim, where they don't have to fight the waves, junegrass, jellyfish, and sometimes dangerous currents.

At the BCC meeting, some sort of grant situation was mentioned, in reference to DeFuniak and Freeport getting the funds for their pools. I think Cindy said that she had info.

Often, it's far easier to get that kind of grant money if you can spin it as a project that will improve the lives of economically disadvantaged or minority groups. So it could be that the grants involved are either difficult or not possible to get for SoWal unless you've got a grantwriter who really knows how to spin it to look like the big benefit would go to the families living in trailers off Chat Holley.

There is talk of SoWal needing a public pool. What are your thoughts? Freeport has a public pool. Why shouldn't SoWal?

What a great idea!

Just as long as it's not next door to my house. :wink:

A public pool would be awesome.

I'd still be too embarrassed to show up in swim attire there, but it would be awesome!

Scott Brannon seemed very favorable to the idea at the meeting. None of the pools at the various communites have a competitive sized pool, which I believe is six lanes wide. Many people have wanted to have a swim team in this area to compete in. No one voiced their opposition to the idea but it would certainly be helpful to show how many from this board woud use it!

Put me down as a supporter for a public pool. Especially if we could have a water aerobics class and swim lessons. I'll be happy to work with a group on this.

Scott Brannon seemed very favorable to the idea at the meeting. None of the pools at the various communites have a competitive sized pool, which I believe is six lanes wide. Many people have wanted to have a swim team in this area to compete in. No one voiced their opposition to the idea but it would certainly be helpful to show how many from this board woud use it!

This one in Hammock Bay (in Freeport and not public) has seven lanes, but I'm fairly certain that it is not competition length.

Hammock Bay's sales literature mentions a community swim team and junior olympic comeptition pool, so I'm assuming it's at least 25 yards.

I'd so much love for a nice 50 meter x 25 yard competition pool with side pools for diving and zero entry/kids, but anyplace that's 25 yards long is useful.

I'm not sure of the length, but from looking at it, I would guess about 25 yards might be accurate.

This one in Hammock Bay (in Freeport and not public) has seven lanes, but I'm fairly certain that it is not competition length.

Sorry, I should have said south of the bay in South Walton!

Sorry, Supermom, I was just pointing out that Freeport in some ways is looking out for their peeps more than WalCo is looking out for it's own in SoWal. Again, Hammock Bay is a private subdivision and the pool is not open to the public.