During the third public hearing on the future use of 57 acres of farmland and woods on the east side of Granville, a proposed swimming pool drew a lot of attention from speakers.
More than 45 people were present during the Oct. 23 hearing on recommendations by the Munson Springs Steering Committee – one of which included a public, outdoor swimming pool on the village-owned land.
Nearly 30 people offered their thoughts, some of them identifying themselves as “pool agnostic.” More than half of those who spoke about the pool, and they were evenly divided, with nine in favor and nine against the pool option. This contrasts with the public hearing on Oct. 9, when the majority of those who spoke were in favor of the public pool option.
The land being discussed is on the north side of Newark Granville Road, east of the Offices at Erinwood complex. The Oct. 23 hearing was the last of the informational meetings, but Village Manager Herb Koehler said it was “not the last bite of the apple by any means.”
The first hearing was specifically for the steering committee to explain its recommendations to the village council. The second and third meetings were for the public to weigh in. The next meeting to discuss the Munson Springs property is tentatively set for Dec. 18 at the Village Hall, 141 E. Broadway.
Four recommendations were presented during the meetings. All include a nature preserve. In no particular order, the options are a passive park with trails; a park with sports fields; a sports park with a pool; or a community center with a pool. The committee that presented the options considered the idea of a public park with a community pool at the request of the Granville Village Council.
Approximately eight Granville residents said they are “pool agnostic,” made up of those who see value in a community center with a pool but have financial and environmental concerns about the impact of the development.
“I’m like others: pool agnostic,” said Granville resident Bill Decker. “[If] we get a pool, we get a pool. My biggest concern with a pool and the community center is the cost of building it.”
He was concerned that those costs could result in higher taxes, and questioned if the Munson Springs property was the best location for a community pool.
“I would rather see it in other places,” he said. “By Raccoon Valley, possibly.”
In the previous public information session, council member Laura Mickelson said the council is unsure, at this point, of the exact cost for the various proposals. The steering committee estimated these costs:
- The Reserve (nature preserve): $3 million to $4 million
- Public Park/Sports Park: $9 million to $12 million
- Sports Park/Outdoor Pool: $15.5 million to $20 million
- Community Center with an outdoor pool: $50 million to $60 million
Granville resident Dawn Busalacchi wondered about the environmental impacts of the options.
“I am also pool agnostic,” Busalacchi said. “I actually love to swim, but I question the appropriateness of this location.”
Busalacchi noted that in Granville during the past 15 years, especially in the past five years, more venues were used for recreation and passive community events. She believes that as this trend continues, the community is creating micro heat island impacts, which refer to areas of a where temperatures are warmer than the surrounding areas due to the presence of buildings, parking lots, and related developments.
“We’re so fortunate to have this space, and to have been able to have purchased it, because the Intel monster is coming from the west, and our opportunities to get contiguous green space into the future is going to be less and less,” Busalacchi said.
Busalacchi said she believes that passive recreation is an excellent way to provide opportunities for recreation, both on an individual and group basis, all year round. But there are plenty of ways that this can be done without the impact the development would have on the environment.
Similarly, Granville resident Susan King, who first used the phrase “pool agnostic,” said she also sees value in preserving the land.
“I did go and walk the property and got to see some of the views from the top,” King said. “So as a nature lover, I’m unabashedly pro park and pro nature reserve. I’m pool ambivalent, pool agnostic. I like to think practical, pragmatic, and just to get a few more Ps in there.”
Other Granville residents echoed concerns about the expense of a community center and outdoor pool, underscoring their desire to preserve the rural character of Granville.
“As a resident of the village for over 30 years, I have appreciation for our community’s parks, green space, and other recreational opportunities,” said Granville resident Mary Tuominen. “I strongly oppose proposals for use of Munson Springs that include a pool.”
Granville resident Gabriela Miller said that Granville residents already pay high taxes, and there are plenty of recreational amenities available for residents and young families like her own.
“It hardly seems fair to tax those residents for a community pool they will be unlikely to use,” Miller said, especially seniors on fixed incomes.
Granville resident David James said that if a community center is built, users should pay for it rather than all residents.
“That’s really unfair,” James said. “How are you going to police that, you know? Is somebody in the township going to be able to come if they’re not paying?”
Similarly, Granville resident Robert Montgomery said that many people moved to Granville because of its small-town features, which need to be preserved. Therefore, he is in favor of the Nature Preserve.
“I also have three small kids, two of them in school. I’m very much in favor of the reserve idea,” said Granville resident Jonathan Nogay. “If we’re going to do a community space, I’d much prefer investing in something more central that’s more walkable to a larger portion of the village.”
Buckeye Valley Family YMCA Chief Executive Officer Adam Shilling came to the village meeting not only as a parent of two kids in Granville schools, but also as a professional in the pool business who knows the impact a community can have. The YMCA operates three pools at its facility on Church Street in Newark.
“I know that a community center would be a great thing for this community. The caution that I provide you is beware of how large you make it,” Shilling said, adding that pools are expensive to operate.
Shilling recalled that a month ago, the city of Pataskala asked the YMCA if it would consider managing its pool.
It “had $120,000 in expenditures and $70,000 in revenue,” he said. “So they lost $50,000 this summer managing that pool. Outdoor pools are extremely difficult.”
Shilling believes that outdoor pools are a “complicated business” and if a community center were built with a pool, he would recommend an indoor pool.
Granville residents who support the outdoor pool option believe that the pool would bring the community together, provide teens with gathering spaces, and create opportunities for teenagers.
Brittany Fickes, of Newark Granville Road, expressed concerns about sharing a property line with the site.
“We put our blood, sweat and tears, our heart and soul and our savings into that home to make it our, our forever home,” she said. “And if you put a parking lot down the entire length of my property, you are ruining that experience for us, for my kids, for my future grandkids.”
Mickelson said in the previous meeting the proposed recommendations are “just renderings,” and not the final design.
The Munson Springs property is likely to be discussed again during a regular council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Granville Village Hall. The three council members attending the public meetings about the future of Munson Springs will distill the input and present it to the full council for discussion.
Donna Chang writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.