Whereas, the City of Decatur currently lacks a dedicated, indoor competition-sized swimming pool.

Whereas, the Oakhurst community pool is the city’s only indoor pool and is decades old, has a limit of 50 swimmers at a time, and is not equipped for competitive swimming and diving.

Whereas, there is an extreme shortage of space for the Beacon Hill and Decatur High School Swim Teams as well as all of the private swim clubs to practice in Decatur and the surrounding areas, causing families to travel to Chamblee and Georgia Tech for swimming.

Whereas, climate and weather changes mean outdoor pools are less likely to be consistently usable due to extreme heat and cold and strength of storms over the coming decades.

Whereas, an additional indoor swimming facility would provide significant benefits to the community, including:

• Youth Development: Providing a platform for young athletes to develop their skills and potentially compete at higher levels, continuing to build recognition for Decatur.
• Enhanced Recreational Opportunities: Offering a venue for competitive swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, and other aquatic sports year-round.
• Demonstrating it’s Greater in Decatur: Attracting private swim clubs, regional and national swimming events, which can boost local tourism and support the desirability of Decatur as a place to live well into the future.
• Lifelong Improved Health and Wellness: Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles for residents of all ages by creating enough desirable activity spaces for more residents year-round.
• Community Building for Today and the Future: Creating a central hub on the east side of Atlanta for aquatic activities will foster a stronger sense of community across all age groups, and increase equitable access to swimming for nearby historically underserved areas.

Therefore, we, the undersigned residents of the City of Decatur, urge the City Council to:

• Conduct a feasibility study to assess the potential costs, benefits, and locations for a competition-sized swimming pool, such as at Legacy Park.
• Explore potential funding sources and arrangements for management of the pool, including fees, use contracts, grants, collaborations with City Schools of Decatur and DeKalb County, public-private partnerships such as with the YMCA, and other avenues.
• Engage with the community, schools, and local swim teams through public meetings and surveys to gather input and understand the urgency of the need for more pool space.

We believe that a competition swimming pool would be a valuable asset to our city and greatly enhance the quality of life for all residents.

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