Report: Four Outdoor Pools Being Considered for Enclosure

CA has narrowed its field of outdoor pools to be turned into an indoor pool from six to four.

  An architecture firm hired by Columbia Association to research turning an outdoor pool into an indoor pool found that Locust Park, Dasher Green, Talbott Springs and Jeffers Hill are the possibilities, according to reporting from Explore Howard.  CA is interested in enclosing an outdoor pool in order to meet a large demand from numerous constituencies including, lap swimmers, master swimmers, athletes and the Columbia Clippers swim team, according to CA spokesperson David Greisman. Previously they had considered six pools, but narrowed the field to four. In addition, the firm recommended a number of possible replacements for SplashDown. The recommendations included a lazy river, community Jacuzzi, water spray playground and a wave …

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SplashDown Replacement Discussions to Take Place

What should replace SplashDown? Tell us in comments.

  Columbia Association has scheduled two public meetings to discuss replacing SplashDown and turning one of CA’s outdoor pools into a year-round indoor pool. SplashDown has been a source of problems for CA since at least 2007 when the interior of the tubes had to be re-caulked. In 2011 CA spent $84,000 making repairs to the water slides after structural issues were found in the stairs tower. Also, a recent engineering study noted that slides’ tubes need to be replaced, an expense that would cost the CA at least $250,000, according to CA’s Aquatics Master plan. In addition, the Master Plan notes that in 2011, general attendance of SplashDown amounted to 2,150 people and 419 birthday parties, a decline from 2007 when 5,000 people attended …

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Readers' Choice: Favorite Pool in Howard County

Where do you like to go to take a dip?

You don't need us to tell you: It's been a hot summer. And there's more to come. When a bowl of ice cream and a cool shower just aren't enough, splashing around a pool is the best form of relief from the heat. It's great exercise, too!  From July 23 to Aug. 17, we’re asking readers to vote in our poll for their favorite pool in Howard County. Winners will receive the honor of being named the Readers’ Choice winner in their community.

(Updated) Columbia Association Offers Free Entry to Pools

With thousands without power and extreme heat descending on Howard County, the Columbia Association has invited residents to use their outdoor pools for free.

  The Columbia Association announced it would be allowing all Howard County residents still without power to use its outdoor pools free of charge on Saturday and Sunday. Pools are open from noon to 7 p.m. Howard County residents interested in utilizing this opportunity can check the CA aquatics website to find a pool closest to them. Also, The Supreme Sports Club is still without power and therefore will remain closed today, July 1. Howard County government has also listed a number of cooling centers on its Facebook page residents can use if they want to escape the heat: Howard County Library Branches: - Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044, 410-313-7800, Weekend Hours of Operation: Sat. 10 am-6 pm and Sun., 1-…

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Columbia Association's Summer Bucket List

Earlier in May, Patch asked readers to submit Howard County Bucket List ideas. Recently the Columbia Association provided their list of 19 things to do in Columbia this summer.

  Summer may not officially begin until June 20, but anyone that spent any time outside over Memorial Day Weekend, knows for all intents and purposes, summer is here. Recently we asked readers to submit their bucket list ideas for Howard County and the Columbia Association replied with a list of 19 summertime events for residents to try: 1. Summer Lunchtime Concerts Take a break from your busy day and listen to music during lunchtime at Columbia Association’s Lakefront Wednesdays. Wednesdays in May and June 12–2 p.m. Downtown Columbia Lakefront, off of Little Patuxent Parkway Admission and Parking: Free Info: Columbia Association Events For a schedule of performers, please visit the Lunchtime Concerts or call 410-715-3104. 2. Lakefront …

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Columbia Association Straw Vote in Favor of Retaining All Outdoor Pools

Board members voted to retain all 23 outdoor pools, according to one board member.

The Columbia Association board voted 7-2 in support of retaining all 23 of its outdoor pools, in a straw vote during a work session, according to board member Tom Coale. "The Board had a lot of big picture paradigm decisions to make before getting into the decision about whether or not to repurpose any pools," Coale wrote about the recap on his blog, HoCo Rising. Coale said the Board, which met Saturday, classified the pools into three separate groups: neighborhood, community and destination pools, with neighborhood pools seeing the smallest annual visitors. He wrote that the classification is not meant to demote the importance of the smaller pools, but rather to ensure the neighborhood pools stay small for those who want their pool …

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Columbia Association to Decide on Pool Plans, Possible Closings

The Board of Directors will take a straw poll on recommendations to the Columbia Association about whether all 23 outdoor pools should stay open.

After about a year of discussion, research and requests for public opinion, the Columbia Association's board of directors will take a straw poll Saturday on maintaining all 23 outdoor pools in Columbia. The poll will come after a task force, created to solve lackluster pool attendance, recommended that the association look into scrapping or "repurposing" less-used pool locations. "Most generally, we need to look into what our aquatic system is going to be," said board member Tom Coale. The worry is that residents would no longer have a neighborhood pool–many of which have been in the communities for more than 30 years. Coale said the number of residents who have shown up for testimony has increased at every pool meeting over the past year …

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