ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) — Athens community members have joined the efforts to urge city and county leaders to open a community pool.
There’s a huge passion for swimming in Limestone County.
Athens High School swim coach Robin Holland has helped to develop both individual and team champions. It’s something she’s accomplished by “borrowing” a pool from other districts.
“We share the pool with the Decatur teams, and so, we have three lanes usually to use three days a week,” said Holland.
During the summer, the Athens city pool is the only facility for training, but it will soon close for the season. The only other alternative, the Athens-Limestone Wellness Center, owned by Huntsville Hospital, closed down for good in 2023.
“We did utilize that pool while it was here, but once it closed, we did have to find alternate places to practice,” Holland explained.
After the Wellness Center pool closure, Limestone County citizen Laura Kerner and a group of supporters, armed with a petition with hundreds of signatures and testimonies, have urged county leaders to open the pool for the citizens who are in desperate need of water therapy.
“This is something that the community desperately needs,” said Kerner.
With no other option, Athens citizen Justin Sampiri has stepped in, asking the city of Athens leaders for a pool that will serve the entire community.
“We talked to the mayor, he seems on board,” said Sampiri. “The city council seems on board, and I haven’t met anybody that said no, so it’s just kind of progressing.”
Sampiri presented the city council with an idea for an indoor facility with two swimming pools at an estimated price tag of $12 to $15 million.
Holland said that she’s never had a home team pool in her nearly decade of coaching the team, but she is thankful that the mayor has recognized a need that will serve the entire community.
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