City Proposes Keeping Glenlake Pool Open Weekday Evenings Through August
Decatur Metro | January 18, 2011Last year, many parents expressed disappointment after it was learned that Decatur’s public pools would close for the calendar year in tandem with the first day of school in early August.
In response, the city of Decatur decided to keep the kid-oriented McKoy pool open during the day through the month. Now the city’s Active Living Department is considering also keeping the city’s Glenlake pool open on weekdays in the evenings from 4p-8p through Labor Day, according to a note from Decatur Active Living Director Greg White (page 11 of City Commission meeting materials).
The extended hours, along with the need for additional lifeguards at Ebster Pool (which will still close at the end of July) and winter maintenance, will cost the city roughly $18,000, according to White’s note.
The Decatur City Commission will take up this new, proposed pool contract at tonight’s meeting.
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OK, I try to avoid being the grammar police, but there’s no such word as “orientated” (it’s oriented)!!! *expelling breath* Thanks for indulging me.
On topic: Why isn’t Ebster eligible to be kept open for extended hours? Just curious, as I believe there are a lot of kids (and adults, for that matter) in public housing who use that pool. I realize that it costs extra to keep the pools open, but what’s the determining factor as to which ones are going to be granted extended hours?
Isn’t that the spelling police and not the grammar police?
Ebster “usage numbers” weren’t high enough to justify keeping it open, according to Greg White’s letter.
Vis-a-vis spelling/grammar: you’re of course correct, but we tend to use “grammar police” as a catchall term on this board, so…
But thanks for the answer to my question. I’m surprised that Ebster pool’s usage is lower than McKoy’s or Glenlake’s (since there are lots of folks in that area), but I’ll take the City’s word for it.
I believe there may be a few British English speakers that would disagree with your statement on orientated.
Language, as always, is defined by usagement.
Well, sugar-lips, we ain’t in England now, are we?
However, Cheeto-toes, we are writing English–aren’t we not?
Además de, podemos nos orientemos, ¿no?
(My Spanish is way out of practice–would that be subjunctive or not?)
Well, Dorito-lashes, one’s proper usage is determined by where one actually is, innit? Plus, I believe you’ll find that lovely English stand-by, the OED, lists “orientate” as a back-formation form of “orient” (which is to say, a form that is not commonly accepted use).
As for your Espanol (sorry– I can’t use tildes here), the tense you’re using is present subjunctive, which makes what you’re trying to say very strange! Roughly translated, you’ve said, “Besides, we can our we orient, can’t we?” I’m fairly positive that’s not what you were actually trying to say!
Digame en Engles, por favor, y traducire por te, si tu quieres…
I would argue that there really is no such thing as “proper usage”–only snobbery, of which I am also guilty.
I literally just lost a little of my coffee. I am really in love with you right now “Dorito-lashes” I’m totally stealing that btw
The lifeguards at Ebster are too strict! , so they should just close it altogether as it’s no fun anyway. “No Toys! Period!”
Seriously, though –
Just a guess here as a regular user of the pools: Ebster just doesn’t get that much use, so it makes sense to me that Glenlake would be open.
For the past several years, after about July 4th, the usage at Ebster really tapers off, at least on weekend afternoons, though it seemed there were more folks this year than last. This is just from my own observation – I didn’t actually track the attendance.
Personally – I’d be happier for Ebster to be open longer as its closer, but I don’t think it would make sense, given how much more use Glenlake appears to get.
YES! This would be great for us. I would say starting at 3:00 on the weekdays would be better; I’d pack the pool bag and drive straight over after pick-up at Oakhurst, then home before 5:00. We love the diving board at Ebster and agree it is never busy when we’re there, but we’ll also go to Glenlake. I’ll gladly pay more for our annual pool pass to help cover this.
that’s a great idea, amy. have 2 different types of passes…one for the regular pool season and one (a bit more expensive) for the extended season. that could help offset the expense a little bit, perhaps?
Would love for both McKoy and Glenlake to stay open after school first starts in August! We definitely would pay a little extra for this to happen!
It would make us SO happy for the pool to be open. What a great way to cool off after work!
Great idea! A corollary of the Serial Mom rule of no white shoes after Labor Day should be no schools starting or pools closing BEFORE Labor Day.
If all the rec center officials mysteriously disappear, check karass’ basement.
YES!! Did it pass???
Yes, it did.
WOOHOO! Thanks for letting us know!
We would gladly purchase a special pass to an extended season at Glenlake! Favorite evenings: head to Glenlake, order pizza and hang out by the pool until they kick us out!
This is great news! It was bad enough (but we’ve survived) that school started August 2; to have the pool close was very disappointing, in the dead heat of summer. I wonder if adults could swim (at their own risk) during school hours? : )