As talk continues about municipal swimming pools, I thought this proposal from 1931, that was never realized might be appropriate.
Another one for the unbuilt files… From the Border Cities Star, August 12, 1931:
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HERE is the drawing made by Mr. Robert M. Thompson Sandwich architect and engineer, of a
proposed municipal bathing pool. The picture shows part of the 90 x 60 foot pool and the attractive
service building. The whole plant, he estimates. could be erected for $40,000 including a complete
filtration and chlorination equipment and locker rooms and shower accommodation for nearly 500 bathers.
Come to think of it, I’m not aware of any municipal outdoor pools built until the Pool at Atkinson Park on Riverside Dr opened in the mid 1950’s.
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I’m going to guess pre-Atkinson conventional logic was “Why pay for a pool when we have the river?”
The Depression and war time probably made the development of such facilities impossible and/or unpopular.
The Lions pool in Lanspeary Park was built a few years before the Rotary Club Shore Acres/Atkinson Park pool was built.
Before the pool was built at Atkinson, kids regularly swam in the river in the same location.