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| I found this article on the Daily Press website. It will mean nothing to anyone but it means a lot to me. This article wad written in 1993 when the possibility of closing Ivy Farms pool was real. I hear in 2010 it was demolished by the city. Just another nail in my coffin. I always wanted to get up there and swim one more lap. That will never happen |
July 22, 1993|By VIRGINIA BIGGINS Daily Press
NEWPORT NEWS — Three decades ago when the Ivy Farms swimming pool was new, people of all ages came early and stayed late to swim, sunbathe and chat with friends.
DAILY PRESS:
Neighborhood kids campaigned to get their families to become members of the pool, which they saw as the only place to be on a hot summer day. Many joined the Ivy Farms swim team.
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Now the pool, one of the oldest in the city, may have to close because its membership has dropped from an all-time high of 300 families in the 1960s to 50 families today. A combination of economics, shifting populations and aging families have affected membership.
To offset the financial difficulties incurred by pool maintenance costs, the Ivy Farms Recreation Association's board of directors and general membership recently voted to open the membership to any homeowner or renter of a single family dwelling in the area. Candace Waits is association president; John North is vice president.
``We've lost a lot of members. Many families have moved out of the area or their children have grown up and moved elsewhere. Some people have moved away because of the area's poor job market. We've had membership problems since 1989 and it has gotten progressively worse,'' says Sandra Atkins, secretary.
``It is a lovely pool in a quiet area. We'd hate to see it closed, but it is expensive to keep open as well as pay for a manager and life guards. We are still the cheapest pool program on the Peninsula, requiring only $299 to join and $170 a year in dues afterward.''
An emergency meeting was recently called to ask the general membership to help publicize the pool, find new members and distribute fliers and other advertisement material designed to encourage pool membership.
``We are offering a super-special, summer membership price of $125 for a family. Our normal summer membership fee has been $225,'' says Atkins.
``Swimming lessons, slimnastics and swimming teams are offered at the pool. We have a nice snack bar and can make arrangements for private parties for members and nonmembers.''
Members hope to keep the pool, which is located at 691 Dresden Drive, open through Labor Day and possibly one or two weekends into September, depending on the weather. The hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. David Rivera is pool manager; there are four part-time lifeguards.
The pool is 25 meters long and is 11 feet at the deep end. It has an elevated diving board, a kiddie pool, recreation room, bathroom, changing room and snack bar.
``Every Monday we have had Neighborhood Day, where anyone can come and swim all day for $3. Now we are holding Neighborhood Day every day in hopes of raising funds to keep operating. I'm surprised more people haven't taken advantage of this offer,'' says Atkins.
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