By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A group of Savannah residents has taken on a huge task: raising the money needed to build a new pool.
It will take approximately $5 million to build a new aquatic center in Savannah.
Diane Gould with Andrew County Aquatics Initiative says the current pool, built 61 years ago, simply has served as long as it can.
“We have been seeing escalating maintenance and it’s just gotten to the point where keeping it open is becoming cost prohibitive,” Gould tells KFEQmmunity.
The group hopes to raise $500,000 by the middle of next month to match a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. It has raised $340,00 so far.
The group reports more than 30 local businesses and 350 individuals have donated to the campaign.
Gould manages the pool and is a member of the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative. She says she is motivated by the children who rely on the pool every summer.
“And those kids don’t have a voice. But, at the pool, they would ask, what can I do? What can I do to help? Are you sure it’s going to close? My heart bled for them every day,” Gould says. “We are the voice for hundreds and hundreds of kids in our community who cannot have a voice for themselves.”
As the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative works to secure the entire grant, member Christie Lightle says there is a special tie-in with this particular grant.
“And the interesting about that grant is that that very grant is what funded the original build of our pool back in 1964,” Lightle says. “So, there’s a lot of interest I think on their part in us succeeding and getting that as well, because that’s a great legacy to carry on.”
Children fanned out across Savannah Thursday night, a special trick-or-treat night during which the children asked for donations rather than candy.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ