Opinion

Didn't float

TBO.com
Published: August 4, 2012

In recent years, the Pasco County Commission has been resisting staff recommendations that it approve shutting down the county's pools at Veterans Memorial Park, in the Hudson area, and the Land O'Lakes Recreation Center. Having already closed county pools in the Zephyrhills area and at the Grove Park Community Center, south of New Port Richey, commissioners were dreading closing the remaining pair.

Then last year, the Land O'Lakes Lightning swim team agreed to take over the cost of operating the Land O'Lakes pool. With some 200 paying members, the Central Pasco youth team was able to bear the cost. With that arrangement working, the team decided this year it would try to save the Veterans Memorial pool by forming a Hudson-area satellite team. Given the team's success in Land O'Lakes, there were hopes it could duplicate the feat in Hudson.

Unfortunately, the Hudson team only attracted 20 members, well short of the 120 Lightning Team President Brett Ewald said would be needed to make it financially viable. This week, Ewald said the Hudson team would soon fold.

As a result, the Veterans Memorial Park pool likely will have to close unless commissioners tell Parks and Recreation Director Rick Buchman to budget the $100,000 Buchman says would be needed to operate the pool in fiscal 2013. Since there are no signs the county's money problems are about to end, commissioners may now have little choice but to shut down the Hudson pool.