By Anne Stapleton, Iowa City
As I swam in the pool at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center (RAL) in March, an unexpected snowfall provided a stunning sight, framed by south-facing windows. Enjoying the view, pool users greeted each other cheerfully, engaged in healthy exercise.
Unfortunately, a pattern of administrative cuts begun in 2022 have diminished access to the RAL pool, despite citywide support for this valuable resource. See this open letter from 2022 and records of the IC City Council and IC Parks and Recreation meetings (including signatures of support from more than 1,100 Iowa City citizens).
CUTS:
- Administrators have decreased hours, now 6:15 a.m.- 1 p.m. on weekdays, with Saturday closures at 1 or 3 p.m. For decades, afternoon and evening hours welcomed people after school and work, plus weekends.
- The pool party option was discontinued last winter, which eliminated an excellent community-building opportunity.
- Recommended pool repairs have not occurred, despite WT consulting group’s conclusion that the facility could operate “for many years” if completed (“Condition of the Pools” report, 2022).
Despite unwarranted cuts, the RAL pool is awash with eager users. According to IC Parks & Recreation, attendance has doubled since October 2022. In December 2024, the Community Recreation Center was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Administrators, please reinstate RAL’s pool hours to equal Mercer’s and undertake deferred maintenance. Given City Park pool’s closure this summer, citizens deserve improved access to their downtown pool. For those who haven’t been to the RAL pool recently, don’t wait another day to enjoy this historic gem!
