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Editorial
Other towns putting pressure on McCook to improve city pool
Thursday, July 16, 2015
If Facebook postings are to be believed, a lot of area residents are making the trip to Oberlin to enjoy that city's new swimming pool facilities, described as "very kid friendly" and with free admission for this summer, its first.
One visitor noted it provides free life jackets and pool noodles, and while locker rooms had yet to be built, porta-potties were available for the time being.
Others chimed in about Colby, which while not free, offers shade, deck chairs, lap pool, low- and high-dive and other amenities. We know people who have traveled many miles to other kid-friendly pools and water parks as well, such a Lexington's Family Aquatic Center, the splash pads in Kearney's Yanney Park.
McCook has a good public pool and dedicated staff, but it's fallen behind the times.
As the Facebook posts indicate, young families now expect features, like splash pads, zero-depth entry pools, shade and other amenities.
We do have a heated YMCA pool, but the lack of heat in the public pool, coupled with difficulty finding lifeguards, severely restricts the number of days it is open each summer.
Upgrading our public pool to make it more family-friendly could help enhance the idea of McCook as a summertime destination instead of a "hot spot" to be escaped.