Community Corner

CA Withdraws Plan to Heat Dorsey Hall Pool Year-Round

Residents were concerned the proposal wouldn't meet the need for an indoor pool.


Columbia Association staff withdrew the proposal to heat the Dorsey Hall pool year-round after receiving complaints from the community.

Rob Goldman, CA's manager of operations, said in an email the withdrawal came after CA received petitions, emails and phone calls from residents and members of the aquatics community who said the year-round heating plan didn't go far enough to meet the demand for indoor swim space.

CA staff pitched the $452,000 plan as a short-term solution for addressing CA's need for more indoor pool space. The annual operating cost was estimated to be about $140,000.

Goldman said the urgency in presenting the plan had to do with construction already taking place at the Dorsey pool, which will include a meeting house containing a combination day care and bath house for the pool. That construction is moving forward as planned, according to Goldman.

Now, Goldman said CA is examining ways to budget for a variety of options to add more water use space between Labor Day and Memorial Day.

At last night's CA Board meeting, residents testified that the year-round heating option shouldn't be budgeted before a new fully-enclosed indoor pool is budgeted, according to an ExploreHoward.com report.

Consultants for CA recommended enclosing one of CA's outdoor pools at a cost of $5 to $7 million in capital costs.

"It's not clear at this time when that project would be in the capital budget," said Goldman, in an email. "Our current estimates are that it is at least 5 to 7 years. The proposal to heat the Dorsey pool was a short-term solution to a demonstrated need. It doesn't necessarily push back the enclosed pool."

In public meetings last year, CA staff indicated there's a need for more indoor pool space for exercise use and for local swim teams.

In November, Marty Oltmanns, assistant director of aquatics for CA, said there are over 60 kids on a waiting list to join the Clippers swim team. He said a new indoor pool would allow more kids to participate.  

The aquatics master plan also detailed the need for more indoor pool space in Columbia.

CA currently operates four locations with indoor pools in them—Athletic Club, Columbia Gym, Supreme Sports club and the Swim Center.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here