Don’t Close Pool

* Janet Evans! Olympic swimmer, Olympic winner! Will there be future Olympians from this area to achieve her glory? Not if the Independence Park 50-meter pool in which she practiced is closed this winter by the city of Fullerton to save money. Not if the closure means the end of her swim team, FAST (Fullerton Aquatic Sports Team).

What a shame it would be to let that happen! It doesn’t seem right to close the pool to save a comparatively small amount of money just after spending more than a quarter of a million dollars to replaster and fix it. And not only the swim team is affected by closure, but also residents and visitors who swim year-round.

Instead of closing the pool, Fullerton, why not capitalize on this great asset? Why aren’t there signs in front of the pool, in front of the park, at major intersections and on freeways inviting one and all to: “Swim at Beautiful Independence Park Pool, Home Pool of Future Champions and of Olympic Gold Medalist Janet Evans”?

VIRGINIA NEAL

Fullerton