Please vote for pools!

October 4, 2016 Recreation Bond Measure 4 It is early on a Saturday morning. 120 high school students and their supportive parents, friends, and coaches are gathering into the Palmer Pool for the Colony Invitational Swim Meet. It is the first swim meet of the season. There are smiles all around as the swimmers get the first opportunity of the season to earn points for their schools in individual and relay events. Some of these students swim year round in USA swimming clubs at the Wasilla and Palmer pools. Others only swim during high school swim season having learned the skills for swimming from previous swim lessons offered by Mat-Su Borough programs. If you’ve never been to a high school swim meet, I invite you back to the Palmer Pool on September 10, 2016 for the Wasilla Invitational. Come see the positive environment and smiles of students encouraging one another and trying to do their best.

So you may ask, why is the Wasilla Invitational Meet at the Palmer Pool? This is because the Wasilla Pool is a 25 meter pool. The Wasilla pool, though built with the best intentions, hosts many recreation and lesson programs, but cannot be the location for any high school or USA swim meets because of its length. Both pools are in need of much needed upgrades and repairs as they were both built in the early 80’s. Their equipment is old and upkeep becomes more and more expensive and eventually will become too expensive to maintain.

The recreation bond #4 is on the ballot at the October 4, 2016 Mat-Su Borough Election. It needs your Yes vote! There are many other positive things on this bond that make the Mat-Su great, including repairs to Brett Memorial ice arena, Talkeetna & Willow Outdoor Ice arenas, Big Lake area trail bridges, Willow Community Park, and many other trail and park improvements throughout our community. Pools, Ice Arenas, Parks and! Trails need your vote!

— Teresa Beck

Palmer