I have a question; can someone tell me why we have a pool at one end of town that is breading bugs and germs? I was told when I moved here that it was closed because it does not hold water. I have noticed that the water level has not gone down in 2 years hmmmm? Was this another ploy by someone with a sort of big ego last name trying to make it look good and build a pool outside the reach of 90% of the kids in town? Oh wait but it does look nice on the inside and it stays clean because it is only a mile or two OUTSIDE OF TOWN. And I am sure the family who has their name on the inside is very proud of their accomplishment of alienating all the youth in Antigo that would otherwise enjoy and outside pool that is located in the neighborhood and in the open air.
So now what will be done with the pool that does not hold water but is full? Who owns it? Who is going to take care of the mosquito issue? And now the eye sore.
New to Antigo and just do not understand.
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It sounds like for a newbie you have already formed your opinions. Call City Hall, ask for the Mayor and get your answers. The answers are yours if you seek them. BTW way, naming rights aside, ALOT of people contributed to the new pool and take pride in it being built. We are a community who want our children to have a year-round place to swim and exercise just like other cities have for their kids. Why should Antigo kids have to settle for less than those they compete against?
I think this is a great question… for the most part. Why is the pool by the hospital still full of “water”? Isn’t that a hazard?
I’m interested to understand where you got the idea that it was the intent/fault of a generous benefactor to deprive children of a swimming pool. For being new in town as you claim, it seems you have some strong opinions, whether they’re true or not, I’m not even sure.
As for my feelings on the issue, I do wish the old pool was still open. I grew up not too far away and swam there as a kid. But it was a bit far away if you were a kid living in the opposite corner of town, so a counterpoint could be made there.
Here’s my understanding on the issue. Whatever work needed to be done to keep the pool open, at that time the city did not want to invest that and chose to support the new pool idea. You can question the city all day on why they’d spend money on this and not that. That’s fine, then just get involved in the politics, run for office, try to get on a committee, speak to your alderperson, vote; but don’t just complain here.
So, about where we are now. Again, just my understanding. At this point either the deal has been done, or the city still intends to see the deal through. The hospital will be building at some point, and that’s the direction they’ll be moving so there was supposed to be some kind of land sale/swap. The last I’d heard was that it was held up or they were trying to get around something that classified that city owned land as a park and that they couldn’t easily get rid of it.
Careful Antigo newbie, you’re just about to see how this town really works… Nobody wants to answer your question they would much rather give u a hard time because you have an opinion. You are very right in saying it is ALL about the last names and the money in this town. If you weren’t born into it you better marry into it quick or plan on being treated just like this for a long long time. I have lived here 5 yrs and I dont have the right last name nor do I plan to get it… that pool has sat there all this time doing NOTHING. And as far as the new pool it’s got quite the history building. A history of more than one SERIOUS injuries due to inexperienced staff but its not a history you’d know about because the cover up ability in this town is great. So unless you get yourself one of those great last names your not going to every know what the “good ol’ boys” club is actually doing with anything. Good LUCK!
I didnt hear anyone giving Antigonewbie a hard time despite the tone of their blog. In fact, the only post that is seems to be giving anyone a hard time is yours. FedUp gave help on where to get the answers newbie was seeking and a bit of the history of how the aquatic center was funded. IT Burns asked a follow up question. Lenny seemed to give some info as to why the city is doing what they are doing. Then there is your comment, slamming the city, the aquatic center and people with certain last names.
I’ve lived here all my life and don’t have a “famous” last name. I’ve never been treated any different than anybody else. This isn’t Hollywood people. You’re the one creating all the woe-is-me drama. You have a voice. Use it. You’re an adult. Act like one.
I’m sure there are a some people that think they’re better than everyone else. That’s life. Some people are nicer than others. It’s not just in Antigo. It’s a small community where people talk & gossip whether it’s right or not it happens. Everywhere.
Many people put a lot of hard work and time in fundraising for the pool. It’s a very nice center and I am grateful to have it.
I’m also happy that the hospital is expanding and can use the land that the old pool is on now.
It amazes me that the comments for this thread have strayed so far from the original question. When writing, it is very hard to inflict “tone” and is very possible to misunderstand what you consider the “tone”.
The point is, Antigo Newbie has a valid question and a valid point. The old pool was labeled as unsafe and too expensive to update and maintain. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon for the new aquatic center without much of a second thought to what happens now regarding the old pool. It is vacant and still unsafe. It is full of water that is breeding mosquitos, among other things. I believe it was last year, that someone complained about turtles becoming trapped in the pool and dying due to having no way to exit the pool once inside(The solution was to lay a plank into the pool for them to climb out).
The old pool is an eyesore and a safty hazard(fence or not). And since the hospital now owns it (obtained from the city in a land swap) I think it high time they make some sort of plan to drain the pool, fill in the holes and either use or demolish the building.
And maybe someone can tell me when exactly the hospital plans to expand north?? Considering all expansion has and is continuing to go on the south side. Since they already own the pool why not expand there instead of buying out more families and homes on the south side???
The old pool had electrical ground issues that would tickle people when they touched metal at times. The repair would be to drain the pool and open it and find the not working ground. This for a pool that is open 90 days a year
The hospital does not own that property. As previously mentioned, it was granted to the city to be used as a park so “purchasing” that land has not been an option at this point.
Beside that fact, everyone with just a little common sense knows you should not leave such a body of water to stagnate and the pool ought to be drained and covered for the safety of everyone (and their eyes! Yuck.)
if they ddrained the old pool it would cave in and disrupt the land around it…like the land that the hospital is on
Just a thought on the pool, could it be filled with dirt, then plant some trees and other vegetation? possibly some flowers to make it look nicer? That would stop the cave in problem, along with the eyesore and mosquito problems.