As I See It
With libraries and pools closed what are kids supposed to do?
When I was young, it was common to spend much of the summer at the municipal pool. It got us out of the house and gave us something to do, hanging out with friends and soaking up the sun. La Crosse operates three city pools, but soon that could be reduced to two. There has been talk of closing the northside pool, and now the money to pay for needed repairs at the pool are being put off from the 2025 capital budget to 2026. The pool isn’t all that old, but City Hall says it needs significant repairs, to the tune of almost a million dollars. The Ericksen pool has been closed all summer, also for repairs, leaving the city’s oldest pool, Memorial Pool as possibly the only pool open next summer. What are kids supposed to do with their free time in the summer? City Hall already closed the southside library branch, taking away another place for kids to hang out during the summer months. We hear repeatedly that kids spend too much time on their phones or in front of a computer or tablet. It is no wonder, as the city keeps closing places where kids could hang out in a healthy environment without being glued to their screens. After closing a library, and possibly a pool, we have to wonder where the cities priorities are.
Come On Man
August 23, 2024 at 8:18 am
The Erickson pool closed last year after the season was over. We had a fairly warm fall and yet no work was started on the repairs needed for the pool. Spring of 2024 appeared to be very mild as well. It is now August 23, 2024 and the pool is still closed. The city said the pool facility needed repairs, yet no work has even begun at the site. Three signs were hung on the fence this spring with a list of contractors who were going to be doing the work, yet hanging the signs is the only thing that has been done.
What the heck is going on? Was the city trying to force people to swim at the new Memorial pool because the neighborhood it is in cried that they needed a new pool. I believe attendance at that pool is the lowest in the city due to its location and lack of size with little to no fun factor. (Large slides?)
The city of La Crosse did not need 3 pools and yet here we are. Pools cost money to maintain and yet no one thought about that? The Memorial pool is too small, poorly located and lacks parking but somehow still got built. Is the city trying to justify their mistake by closing one of the other pools to force citizens to swim at their mistake? A new pool (Memorial) built on past childhood memories of when your grandparents took you there is not a sound fiscal decision and now we see why. SRS above editorial states that next year we may only have one pool open. Why is that? Let’s not forget that one of the City of La Crosse’s new ideas is to house the unsheltered population in Erickson Park where there are bathroom and shower facilities.
Who is running the city? Obviously not someone with common sense.
walden
August 23, 2024 at 10:20 am
Yes, you are correct and I pointed out the unexplained delay at the time. There was no construction related reason why the pool work couldn’t have been started almost a year ago after the pool closed for the season.
Seems to be a trend. The $45 million La Crosse Center project lingered with construction debris closing Front Street for a year after the project was essentially complete, millions over budget.
The rehab of Burns Park at a cost of $600,000 took over a year (now mostly used as a day-camp for vagrants roving between the public library and Salvation Army).
The 3 story “affordable housing” project at 4th and Jackson is forecast to take well over a year to construct. The 100+ story Empire State Building was built in same amount of time in the 1930s.
Roy
August 24, 2024 at 7:57 am
We built mile-long air strips on uninhabited islands in the Pacific during World War II in a few weeks. Everything needed had to be transported thousands of miles by ship under battle conditions. Cement, bulldozers, rollers, fresh water, gasoline and diesel, surveying equipment and lots of manpower. Meanwhile….
It took all summer to resurface a small neighborhood area near 20th and Travis in La Crosse. Barricades everyway you turned. Nearly impossible to drive in that area.
Wild Bill
August 23, 2024 at 11:45 am
Spot on! The city bowed to the squeaky wheel neighborhood group that raised 500k of 3.5 million. My kids love Erickson and typically skip going to memorial for the reasons you mention though we live blocks away. The BGC and many other camps of all incomes depend on the north side pool. Another great example of how mismanaged La crosse is and people wonder why west Salem, Holmen, La Crecent are seeing their populations grow while La crosse is losing residents.
Libertarian Guy
August 23, 2024 at 8:27 am
You ask some good questions in this opinion piece today. I have no issues with it. thanks for bringing this one to the attention of the community.
One has to wonder about the priorities of City Council and the mayor. They seem to be laser focused on the homelessness situation while neglecting their duties to the taxpayers with regard to city services (such as pools and the south branch library) and show no interest in effective financial stewardship. Remember, they received $22 million courtesy of the federal government in addition to all the taxes they levy and state taxes they receive from the State. Yet they are still running a budget deficit and are cutting city services. At least The nonprogressive members of city Council have finally learned that which most of us knew already. That their efforts would not work and would potentially bankrupt the city. They don’t seem to realize that continuing to increase taxes causes rent to go up, rendering it more and more difficult to afford an apartment. Now the county will need to learn the same lessons. City and County supervisors must stop exceeding their role in government. It’s time for them to realize they need to support tax paying residents who support the city via employment and taxpaying. That’s the bread and butter of this city. It’s high time they learn that. And by the Community, we have two county supervisors who clearly have a conflict of interest. Tina Tryggestad and Kim cable both work for Couleecap. They benefit emotionally and financially from homelessness efforts as directed by their role as county supervisors.
Jeffrey Hanson
August 24, 2024 at 10:31 am
I could not agree more! Well said.
R Head
August 24, 2024 at 7:47 am
Take the money that there giving the homeless and fix the pools. Take care of our kids not the lame and lazy.
Corrine Miller
August 25, 2024 at 7:42 am
Agree with all the above
Pretty sad we have this beautiful city and the choices made by city fathers is questionable Open those damn pools up . It is horrendous to have two pools not operating . Where did the money come from to put all the bike lanes in , the stupid bump outs etc
Dot ? Ok fine
This city as far as I can see nothing is being done to address the pool situation and oh my gawd going to turn what has been good for our kids into a homeless site 😫😫😫 for the good of the taxpayer , me , you , for F sake figure something out . There are empty bldgs all over la crosse . I would rather you use Houska , Kmart bldg is just sitting there . Of course it is thats what our city does !!!! And lets happen !!!!