Chandler Water Park on the chopping block.

[Dbest]

Quit pretending you didn't come in here and called me a noob and liken me to a Freep commentator. I don't read the Freep's article comment's because they are way too over the top. Enjoy them though. I'm still waiting for you to contribute something intelligent to this thread? ...Because you "only" post on subjects you know about... BTW your not a moderator for this site, and I don't care what post's of mine you like or dislike.

[Diehard]

I worked at a city pool in an impoverished inner city area. The pool and water recreation is the BIGGEST highlight of the kids summer. Also a great babysitter for parents who would drop their children all day. Which was typical. I would rather have them at the pool having fun than in possible harms way hanging out in the hood any day though. This is also an oppurtunity for alot of these kids to escape there tough surroundings and sometimes gang pressure or what not.... They can put their guard down in city limits and just be KIDS! They cant even do that at school. These pools/waterparks are some of the most peaceful environments that many of these people will experience during the year. Most will not experience vacation trips to other places. So that pool is IT! Everybody is happy, sharing[[pool), and relaxed. Detroit needs to facilitate these places in any way possible.

This. Yeah, yeah, budget cuts, yeah, tax dollars, yada yada yada. Maybe I'm reacting too emotionally, what with this story coming closely on the heels of the Grosse Pointe School Board thumbing their noses at Head Start [[http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...-Grosse-Pointe), but the underlying sentiment that's driving me mad is this idea that poor kids don't deserve any of the things that our supposedly civilized society hands to kids from wealthier areas.
"Your parents are broke and irresponsible, so you don't deserve a decent education. You live in a ratty rental in a ratty neighborhood, so you don't deserve a pool to play in. You're surrounded by no-good criminals, so you don't deserve police protection. Your family eats junk food paid for with a Bridge card, so you don't deserve grocery stores. MY kids deserve these things because they were born in Grosse Pointe and we have a nice house and pay more taxes than your parents do, and it won't be my problem when you turn into a street thug because I won't go anywhere near your neighborhood and you can't come into mine."
Point fingers at the grownups if you must, but when did "fiscal responsibility" turn into "let's make their kids suffer"?

[Dbest]

You his partner Bigb? I have been reading this board and have been a member longer than you I'm sure. You show up on this thread and contribute nothing[[surprise!) but some stupid joke about the freep comments you obviously read/post daily. I expressed my views on the topic, did you? No you didn't, you want to attack me when you haven't contributed anything. You are a troll

[Islandman]

I will say that some of my most enjoyable experiences was going to the pool at CAY Rec Center on Chene, just a short walk from McDonald's Square on Vernor. There was a very small fee to use the pool. The pool guy would check your feet and ankles like a drill sergeant prior to you entering the pool; if you didn't make the cut, back to showers with you.

Bottom line is that it really is a shame that droves of young children will be missing out on this experience through no fault of their own: geographical and socioeconomic displacement.

[Zacha341]

Wow, I used to swim at CAY it was great. I learned how to swim at Joseph Walker Williams which has a great Olympic sized pool. Yeah the point is not to say there's no validity to keeping these venues open. But getting crazy about it is not the answer either. Perhaps they can close an additional day during the week to cut down on costs, and reduces staff a bit. They had to know the costs were high to run this facility. Why no measure to reduces over-head... instead of going straight to closing it down? Someone needs to put to to Ficano....

I will say that some of my most enjoyable experiences was going to the pool at CAY Rec Center on Chene, just a short walk from McDonald's Square on Vernor. There was a very small fee to use the pool. The pool guy would check your feet and ankles like a drill sergeant prior to you entering the pool; if you didn't make the cut, back to showers with you.

Bottom line is that it really is a shame that droves of young children will be missing out on this experience through no fault of their own: geographical and socioeconomic displacement.

[eastland]

As a product of Brightmoor, County Exec Ed McNamara felt the water park was very important to the city. In his view, Chandler Park represented the Disney World or Cedar Point that eastside kids would never experience.