COMMENTARY Saving the Phillips Pool to Save Lives

By State Senator Jeff Hayden

Minneapolis “The City of Lakes.” Minnesota “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

Behind all those images of sky blue sparkling waters, there is a startling fact:

Minnesota has the highest drowning rate among African-Americans in U.S. The drowning rate for Native Americans is third highest in U.S.

One reason is the lack of opportunities for inner city youth and adults to learn how to swim. In fact, the only free indoor public swimming pool in the city of Mpls. is at the Phillips Community Center and the only pool in the Phillips community. Unfortunately, the pool has been closed since Boys and Girls Clubs lease ended in 2008.

The Mpls. Park and Rec. Dept. planned to infill with dirt and cap with concrete in 2010. Thanks to an outpouring of support from the community and advocacy from interested organizations, the pool was saved from demolition. However, before the pool can be reopened to the public, it needs extensive renovations.

I”'m carrying a bill in the Senate, with Rep. Karen Clark in the House, to renovate the Phillips Pool using $2.1 million from the state”'s capital investment budget. The proposal was in Gov. Dayton”'s bonding request, and is currently included in the House version.… Read the rest “COMMENTARY Saving the Phillips Pool to Save Lives”