Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

People clamor for public pool

An overflow crowd greeted the Prescott City Council at its November meeting.

In fact, so many people showed up chairs were obtained from the auditorium upstairs, and this still wasnt enough. People had to wait in the lobby at City Hall. There was a variety of reasons for the crowd.

The first to address the council was Maxine Milner, who spoke on behalf of children in the area and the need for a public swimming pool. She said during the summer months children have nothing to do and nowhere to swim.

The city, she said, needs to provide a public pool along with a Girls and Boys Club for the young people so they would have somewhere to go after school.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor agreed, saying these items are needed and will be addressed. The problem is finding the money to build and maintain such facilities. Generally, the problem is coming up with the funds to maintain and operate clubs and pools, as grant money can be found to build them.

Taylor initially reminded the crowd the meeting was open to the public, but wasnt a public meeting. He said only those on the agenda would be allowed to address the council.

He also pointed out other cities across the state are closing their public pools. Pine Bluff, he said, closed one of its two pools and Monticello closed its pool.

Taylor agreed if there is a pool in the community it should be accessible to everyone. The problem, he said, is not building the pool, but maintaining it.

Donnie Crain, the new executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, was charged with finding grant money to build a swimming pool and recreation center for young people.

Taylor said Prescott is receiving grant money through Mike Ross for the Parks and Recreation Department, but these funds will be used to construct a softball/baseball field at McRae Park.

A committee was appointed to work with Crain to look into the feasibility of building and maintaining a public swimming pool and recreation center. The committee consists of Milner, Howard Austin, Jerry Wilson, Gary Lowdermilk and Ann Stockton.

Jackie Milner, Maxines daughter, attempted to address the Council, saying the private pool near the park isnt accessible to blacks.

Taylor said it is a privately owned facility.

Maxine Milner said she attempted to become a member for her grandchildren, but was turned down. I know there are no black members.

It makes our children feel inferior, Jackie Milner said.

Im behind you 100 percent, Taylor said, and were not neglecting the issue. It will take about $500,000 to get started and its not easy to do.

The citys priority, Taylor continued, is working to get more and better paying jobs in Prescott through the EDO.