Citing budget cuts by the Grayson County Board of Supervisors, the Grayson County Department of Parks and Recreation is shutting down the public pool in Independence on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer season, beginning next week. This is unprecedented in the Grayson pool's 25-year history.  Keith Weatherman, Director, said a lack of funding has made it impossible to keep the pool open on its normal schedule. I did not even inquire about the traditional "night swims" which the pool has held for the past several years.  If day swims are getting the axe, night swims are budgetary luxuries.

As of June 4, ten local families have purchased "family passes" at an increased price of $150. Family summer pool passes in Grayson County cost $100 in the summer of 2006 and $125 in 2007. These passes--mine included--are now worth nearly a third less, since they cannot be used two days a week. Saturday is traditionally the most popular pool day in Independence, and one of the only days when working parents can accompany their children to the pool.  Does any other municipality in the whole state of Virginia have a public pool that is shut down on Saturdays in the summer?  I haven't done the research, but I have my doubts.

I suppose we Independence residents can take our children to a more wealthy municipality to swim on Saturdays, where they manage to maintain funding for recreational opportunities for the town's children.  Fries, for instance.