Planning key to avoiding dry ground at pools

Bullitt County government loses several thousand dollars each week that it operates swimming pools at its four locations.

This year, the losses will be less as only one pool - behind Maryville Elementary - appears ready to meet the new federal safety standards and will open sometime this week.

With only one pool open, it will provide a bit of insight on whether people will travel several miles to take advantage of the county facility.

It would also provide a bit of leverage for a group looking to open a single indoor swimming facility.

We would like to echo the sentiments of Bullitt Fiscal Court members and county attorney Walter Sholar.

For years, we have opined about the lack of planning. In the area of parks and recreation, that is not something that is always at the top of mind awareness for local officials. The complaints they might hear would involve their child’s playing time, not the long-range future of the department.

Now is the time for the parks board to begin meetings once again. It is time for these individuals to begin a serious, long-range study of the recreation department in Bullitt County.

It is time for the board to offer suggestions to Bullitt Fiscal Court.

There will be no major money spent in the near future; however, there was a spark of interest in helping when all the pools appeared poised to close for the entire summer.

The county needs to capitalize on that enthusiasm, the various offers for help and the need to study a department which is slowly losing its participants and even some of its grounds.

While money may not be spent, it is the perfect time to provide an avenue to begin some long-overdue planning. Recreation is important and it deserves its part of the county coffers.