City gets it right: aesthetics matter in new pool

Posted 9/11/08

For the past few years, just saying the word “pool” in Powell has stirred strong reactions. Some have adamantly supported the ongoing project throughout all its phases. Others just as fiercely opposed it, or at least some part of it …

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City gets it right: aesthetics matter in new pool

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For the past few years, just saying the word “pool” in Powell has stirred strong reactions. Some have adamantly supported the ongoing project throughout all its phases. Others just as fiercely opposed it, or at least some part of it — be it the funding, location or design.

On Monday, the Powell City Council voted to move forward with the aquatic center, and construction likely will begin within the next four to six weeks.

The construction and design companies spent the past two months looking for ways to reduce the cost and suggested cutting certain aesthetic elements of the pool.

At a savings of more than $50,000, the city could have taken away the pool's exterior color, eliminated flutes, gotten rid of the sandblasted walls and put an end to other design features.

However, Mayor Scott Mangold and councilmen opposed making the pool a gray, lifeless cement building. Aesthetics matter to the council — thankfully.

After all the money, hours, labor and emotion that has gone into the new Powell pool, it needs to be a facility the community is proud of, rather than an eyesore.

The dollars going into this pool certainly matter, especially in an unstable U.S. economy. However, money spent on a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing aquatic center is an investment, not a frivolous expenditure.

For the past few years, just saying the word “pool” in Powell has stirred strong reactions. Some have adamantly supported the ongoing project throughout all its phases. Others just as fiercely opposed it, or at least some part of it — be it the funding, location or design.

On Monday, the Powell City Council voted to move forward with the aquatic center, and construction likely will begin within the next four to six weeks.

The construction and design companies spent the past two months looking for ways to reduce the cost and suggested cutting certain aesthetic elements of the pool.

At a savings of more than $50,000, the city could have taken away the pool's exterior color, eliminated flutes, gotten rid of the sandblasted walls and put an end to other design features.

However, Mayor Scott Mangold and councilmen opposed making the pool a gray, lifeless cement building. Aesthetics matter to the council — thankfully.

After all the money, hours, labor and emotion that has gone into the new Powell pool, it needs to be a facility the community is proud of, rather than an eyesore.

The dollars going into this pool certainly matter, especially in an unstable U.S. economy. However, money spent on a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing aquatic center is an investment, not a frivolous expenditure.

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