Swimming pool could pay off for schools, community, county told
Published 9:48 am Tuesday, March 27, 2018
- Matt Hamilton/Daily Citizen-NewsNorthwest Whitfield High School's Trent Pilcher swims at a meet in November of last year at Dalton High School.
DALTON, Ga. — Since Northwest Whitfield High School started its swim team 10 years ago, swimming has grown dramatically in popularity in county schools. All three county high schools and two county middle schools now have swim teams, according to Mark Hannah.
Hannah, whose wife Marta is the swim coach at Northwest, addressed the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Monday night at their work session on behalf of a group of citizens who are looking to create the North Georgia Aquatics Center, a competition-size indoor community pool.
“County swim teams are currently using Dalton High’s pool,” Mark Hannah said. That limits their ability to practice.
“What we are looking for is a commitment from the county to donate the space for the pool, preferably at Edwards Park, because that is where most of the swimmers are, and to maintain and operate the pool,” Hannah said. Edwards Park is relatively close to two of the three high schools, Coahulla Creek and Northwest.
With that commitment, Hannah said, the citizens group could begin to raise money to build the pool. Hannah said the estimated cost to build the facility is $4 million.
He said it would not only benefit the school swim teams but the community as a whole, providing recreation and the opportunity for swimming lessons, water aerobics classes, kayaking lessons, first responder training and more.
Commissioner Greg Jones asked how much it would cost the county to maintain the facility. Hannah said based on other facilities it could cost $100,000 but he said rentals and other fees could cover that cost.
“It might take it three or four years to get to that point, but from the first day it opens it would bring in money, which is more than many things government operates does,” he said.
Commissioner Roger Crossen noted a pool could also host swim meets that would bring in teams and family members who would stay in local hotels and eat in local restaurants.
“That would help the local economy,” he said.
Commissioners are receptive to the idea and agreed to take it up at a future meeting.
