Jury Pool Guest Editorial by Adam Welch
There are no years more crucial to who we truly become than our days of childhood. The memories we shape, the friends we make, and the adults who mold us during these formative years cannot be overstated.
From the age of seven to my early twenties, the majority of my summers were spent at Jury Park. While I grew up in northeast Fort Wayne, my sister was a lifeguard at the pool, and when not annoying her co-workers, I learned to play the game of tennis at the courts located adjacent to the pool. Years later, I earned my first job at the age of sixteen as a tennis instructor and returned each summer for five years. Simply put, Jury Park didn’t just provide memories for me, it changed my life.
Currently New Haven residents have a choice which path they want to take—one which will continue a path of resistance and stagnancy, or one which will create memories and perhaps even change lives for future generations.
What’s at stake is not just new pool—it is the heart of a neighborhood and the attraction point of a community. New Haven has the chance to create a gem for their residents. While I admittedly cannot sign the yellow petition due to my place of residence, I only hope that others will read this and represent not just my voice but my childhood.
Perhaps it is difficult to understand how a pool and park can change one’s life, but that is exactly what Jury Park did for me. I made childhood friends, learned to swim and play tennis, and earned my first job there. New Haven children and families deserve this, so I please ask for your support in saving Jury Pool by signing the yellow petition. To me, the greater risk is not signing it because one lost memory is one too many.
Adam Welch
I agree with Adam Welch. Our family spent so much time at Jury Pool in the summers. When I told my daughter about the vote "yes" or "no," her comment was "Why would anyone NOT want to take part in rebuilding Jury Pool? We had a blast there!"
I have a hard time understanding why the citizens of New Haven would be against something that brought a lot of fun to kids and their parents. I hope, if they have or had children who frequented the pool, that they will reconsider their "no" vote. We owe it to the young families in New Haven to give them a great place to go.
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Our slogan: "Save Jury Pool" - is positive, hopeful - looking to the future.
The Blue Team's slogan: "Vote No" - "For no new taxes." Negative - not looking to enhance the future of our residents.
Of course, why would anyone want any "new" taxes, unless they knew the whole story, the real facts, not taken out of context, or exaggerated, or as is very common to hear - "mis-represented".
We must look to the future - as the improvements to Jury Pool are way over-due and putting a band-aid on it - as the "Blue Team" wants to do - of course - That will take a tax increase, too..........they just don't tell you that. If we follow their plan - minimal improvements - "just put Jury Pool back the way it was" - we'll be having this same conversation in 5 or 10 years - and then - how much will it cost us? New Haven is known for its conservatism, but - the very name of our community "New Haven" shows that the history of this community has been to be a haven for many people. Let's not short-change the next generation or two by giving them a "second-rate" place to go - when there are so many positives to be gained by taking this Jury Pool & Park to the next level, on a relatively inexpensive per family cost. VOTE YES! For quality of life and enhancement of our great community!
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