DALLAS - News of the budget crises is making a splash at Dallas’ public pools. The city could shut down eight pools because of a budget shortfall.
The public pools are a convenient gathering place for hundreds of summer camp children who arrive by the bus loads.
Joseph Whittaker is a camp leader for St. Luke’s Community Center and is concerned about the potential of eight public pools closing in Dallas due to budget cuts.
"I feel like everyone who runs it like lifeguards and security guards," said Whittaker. "I feel like they're gonna have loss of funding and loss of jobs and all the kids who come here from different districts they really don't get a chance to interact with other kids, their friends besides like once a month at camps."
Whittaker said their church recreation center has no pool. So, he takes several dozen children in the camp to the Samuell-Grand pool location off of Interstate 30 near Dolphin Road. He relies on the public pool as an outlet for the children in the summer.
"I have about 85 children who would be screaming and running around and saying when am I going to go to the pool and I gotta break their hearts and I don't like to do that," Whittaker said.
The city of Dallas is not only considering closing eight community pools, but three recreation centers could also be on the chopping block.
This is thanks to the city’s more than $30 million budget shortfall.
Parents whose children take swimming lessons at Dallas’ public pools said this is a public safety issue as well.
Sergio Lopez brought all three of his children to the Samuell-Grand location to learn how to swim and hopes city officials reconsider closing pools at Wednesday’s budget briefing at city hall.
"They should go find somewhere else to cut the budget," said Lopez. "They should just leave the pools open for the kids."
A more comprehensive budget will be established in September at Dallas City Hall. There is hope that maybe by then things have cooled off and eight pools will be saved.
No word yet on which pools would close or how many workers could lose jobs.
Email: ddenmon@wfaa.com
