New Janesville Pool Run-Up Eerily Familiar

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For the usual reasons, the Janesville Gazette seems to be willingly promoting Dawson Field for the location of a centralized city recreational water facility despite being rated lower than the other two choices. Perhaps they are testing the winds for the city administration, but their most recent article heavily favored Dawson, molding the location with all its flaws to fit the plans regardless of logistics or expense.

JG Excerpt:
City administration hopes the committee will recommend one large site capable of serving 1,600 swimmers, which could cost between $8 million and $9.5 million, according to the latest estimate.

The costs pose no obstacle to city staff. It appears like the city administration already made the decision to put it at Dawson, and it’s just a matter of time to shape the facts and opinions around a presentation strong enough to convince the committee and city council to go along for the ride. Plus, nobody has explained what will become of the other satellite pool facilities once a giant centralized one is built. Lastly, the city council could decide a new centralized pool is unnecessary and shift their focus to improve and maintain the existing facilities. But don’t count on this.

History has shown the city seems to prioritize new hardware and structure with all the bells and whistles over the software. The campaign and support for the school referendum was a blitzkrieg of slanted information and omissions while the pressure to support the teachers with an equitable contract is non-existent. Ditto for the drive for a new recreational water facility. Support for lifeguards, beach clean-up and maintenance crews (human element) for current facilities is also non-existent.

On this same note, a brand new giant water facility with multiple splash pads, sprinklers, slides and zero depth entrance pools appears geared more towards young children than the exploding population of baby boomer adults. With that said, it is just an extension of the recently passed school referendum in the context of new structure and hardware for facilities - the baby-sitter effect. The schools cover nine months, the pools baby-sit the other three.

Could it be a select group of parents are pulling all the strings and steering the city manager and committees? Does this make sense? Regardless, the decision is made. The campaign for a centralized pool has begun and come hell or high-water, it will be at Dawson Field.

*UPDATE* Near the end of today's city council meeting, the Janesville City Manager, Steve Sheiffer debunked the projected costs published in the Gazette's aquatics story. The manager said the administration has no intention of spending more than $5 million but still considers a central aquatics facility top priority. The lone central location remaining is Dawson Field.

More.....After mentioning Dawson Field in Sunday's aquatics article at a 10 to 4 ratio, Tuesdays aquatics article mentions Dawson not even one time. Truly amazing!