Mayor’s Letter to the Editor – Sullivan City Pool

By Press release submission

Sep 12, 2022

To say I am grateful for this community is an understatement. The City of Sullivan and its citizens have come together united more times than not. We are blessed to have plenty of examples of this; however, the most recent is in the revitalization of the Sullivan City Pool. The over 18-months of fundraising, continued support and overall spirit of its reopening have been felt at this community's core. Due to the numerous town hall forums, committees, and countless hours of planning, we can all be extremely proud of this revitalized facility and amazing asset. However, as we embrace this new and second era of our pool's history, there is a critical importance for continued fundraising, annual giving, donations, and contributions at all levels to enhance the longevity of this pool. Many people do not understand that although pools provide exceptional quality of life and recreation for communities, they are not always the most feasible business endeavor. Quite frankly, public pools lose money almost daily with water costs, maintenance, infrastructure needs and staffing. Keeping the entry fee low is important to ensure that all families can enjoy this amazing amenity; however, those funds do not even begin to cover the general operation. With this being said, our road to reopening the Sullivan City Pool does not end here. It did not end the day we were all able to gather in the place we have loved for half a century, and it does not end at the end of this summer season. I challenge each citizen to please understand this continued and collective community effort by donating when you can, encouraging your neighbors, friends, and family to visit, and most importantly, visiting regularly at the start of next season. I understand that this pool is not here to break even or help the city expand its budget, but it is here to provide a well-deserved quality of life feature to our citizens and visitors. The Sullivan City Pool lasted over 50 years when it was first opened, and with everyone taking time to care, we can ensure that future generations can grow to love it as much as we do today. Together, let us instill the value this pool has by planning for its future and continuing to invest in it.

www.wvcf.org/funds/sullivan-city-pool-replacement-fund/