Skyler Archibald at the Broadway pool.

A few weeks ago I paid a visit to the pool. I made an appointment with Skyler Archibald, the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District executive director. Nobody told me in advance how tall he is, but then again, I am pretty short. Skyler generously gave me an hour of his time to answer some questions and show me around.

And show me around he did. I saw the lap pool, the warm pool, and the spa. I saw the men’s shower and locker room; I saw the women’s. I saw two preschool classrooms filled with busy, happy kids. I saw a commercial-grade kitchen where meals are prepared. I saw a modest weight and exercise room. One of the highlights of my tour was the operations room which contains the huge double-tank filtration system used to filter the various waters of the pool.

I met Levi Conner, the maintenance manager. It was actually towards Levi I directed my most pointed questions. My purpose was to address the complaints of a couple of letters written to this newspaper regarding the pool area and locker room cleanliness.

On my tour, I was apprised of the temperatures of each pool and how they differ, and what accommodations must be made for each pool as to chlorine and other chemical disinfectants. Obviously, the warmer the water, the greater the need. I also learned a physiological fact which is that the warmer the water, the more likelihood of sphincter and bladder accidents. I learned what happens during a “Code Brown” event. I learned disinfecting is a genuine science.

The pool has a state of the art filtration system installed in 2017. Although there is an alarm system in place to alert personnel of any surprises, the pool waters and the filtration system are comprehensively checked every two hours. We talked about the men’s locker room floor and how mistakes made during its installation last year are scheduled for correction starting Oct. 24.

The lap pool itself is 41 years old. The warm pool and the spa were built in the early 2000s. Some things aren’t working properly, including the slide, which is out of commission and needs funds for replacement. We talked about the waiting list for the preschool. We talked about how the fitness room could easily be doubled in size and how nice it would be if there could be a room for yoga or Zumba.

I left the building feeling energized. I walk an hour every day it’s not raining, but I could use more exercise. I thought about the beautiful natural light in the pool area. I thought about buying a new swimsuit. Despite the complaints about the facility, it all seemed pretty nice to me.

The vote on the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Building Expansion Project is coming up. On Tuesday, Oct. 9 and Monday, Oct. 29, there will be public forums to discuss the project. Both forums start at 5 p.m. at the Bob Chisholm Community Center located at 1225 Avenue A. Highlights of the project include an indoor walking track; a community gymnasium; a new fitness room; expanded classrooms for early childhood education; community meeting room space. The project’s estimated cost is $20 million dollars to be paid for by a 20 year bond that will cost taxpayers about 70 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value. For families trying to make ends meet and seniors on fixed incomes, the price, at first glance, may seem steep.

Before you make up your mind, attend a community forum.

You may be surprised what you learn.