(background photo credit: Eduardo Goody) 

The people of Hoboken request urgent action on the planning, funding, and construction of a simple outdoor community pool or pool complex (which can include an indoor pool as well)**.

**For the TLDR, just scan the bold. **All the blue underlines are clickable links to supporting information.

We respectfully submit this petition because we cannot think of an amenity more practical, fun, and unifying than an outdoor pool complex capable of enhancing the lives and health of all residents.

Recent events, including the intense interest in the outdoor swimming amenities constructed in neighboring Weehawken, underscore the reality that for absolutely no good reason (and unlike ALL the municipalities that border us), Hoboken lacks its own outdoor (or indoor) community pool. This has been the case for multiple decades, a wish of our residents for even longer, and we, the people of Hoboken, request it be made an urgent and standalone priority.  

Advocacy for Hobokenites to gain access to Weehawken's facility, while much appreciated, pulls focus from addressing our core need for a pool.

Efforts to facilitate the use of our local university and public high school pools are helpful, but they can't compare with a low-cost/free outdoor option for use by all residents - one that would also allow for low-cost/free Recreation Department lessons to teach crucial water safety. Further, the school district has many other pressing priorities, and though they've kindly provided additional swim options to the city, they should be supported in leveraging current and future facilities totally in the service of their student body. As two educators from NJ noted in a NJ.com op-ed recently, urban areas need their own community pools and low-cost swimming lessons to save lives. Weehawken now has a fantastic pool complex and offers low-cost lessons (and recently no cost, through a YMCA partnership).

Why not Hoboken?

While making this inquiry, we are mindful of the economic impacts of Hoboken’s unabated residential development and gentrification. They serve as sobering reminders that intentional and united community advocacy has never been more important. As we seek new residential amenities that will benefit all the people of our city in its beautiful entirety, we must keenly focus our demands on well designed and cost-effective spaces that the general public lacks. 

In the same way the city’s flood resiliency projects are correctly positioned as urgent, the global climate crisis necessitates swift municipal action to add additional energy and cost-efficient community spaces that provide sustainable heat relief. With heat rapidly becoming a worldwide public health emergency, we simply don't have time to wait for large and costly multi-use structures to be greenlit and built to achieve this. Pool amenities as add-ons to other city projects can certainly be welcome future additions, but in essence, we are asking for a simple pool complex. 

Therefore, in enthusiastic agreement with Mayor Bhalla's own sentiment that a new pool accessible to residents is indeed “much-needed,” the people of Hoboken who have signed this petition respectfully request the following, or a close approximation:

1. That the city, in 4-6 months, present the public plans for a simple OUTDOOR** pool or pool complex*, ideally with a child-friendly splash pad or kid-friendly pool co-located or nearby. 
2. That the city, in 4-6 months, present the public with 2-3 locations where this pool or pool complex could be placed, specifically on existing city lands to lower cost.  
3. That the city, in 4-6 months, present the public with 2-3 funding options, or visibility into funding plans, whether by grant or small public tax assessment, developer contribution, or a combination, etc., as well as transparency around estimates for staffing and administrative costs to run and maintain the pool throughout summer and secure it during the year when not in use, ideally with additional line items for city-sponsored programs like free swimming lessons.
4. That the city acknowledges the public is requesting they plan a relatively standalone (not part of a many years to construct, multi-use structure), safe, and attractive no fee/low or tiered fee pool, pool complex (or multi pool location offering) for our residents.  The city understands that what is designed must be fully accessible to residents of all abilities and income levels, and be constructed both soundly and quickly, with a goal of being ready for use in a relatively short time frame starting once research, plans, and permits are finalized (i.e. a subsequent 2 years at most). 
5. That the city recognizes that the public’s vision for our community pool is one where equitable access for the citizens of Hoboken is a non-negotiable cornerstone, and that through well thought out design and programming (i.e. early opening hours for community services such as free swim lessons, going beyond basic ADA compliance to best serve and welcome residents with disabilities, designated times for family swim, senior swim and aquatic fitness, adult swim, and evening event options for all) we can assure that every single individual in our city can fully and freely enjoy this vibrant and sorely needed amenity. 

Thank you! 

**an acceptable complex can also (ideally!) include an indoor pool (or space that can convert to indoors which would extend use and the opportunity for swim classes throughout the year), but this must only be in combination with a primary, amply sized, attractive outdoor pool amenity akin to those in every one of our neighboring communities.