Mayor Rawlings-Blake Thanks Donors for Keeping City Pools Open Until Labor Day
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake thanked a major Baltimore City individual and the T. Rowe Price Foundation for their unsolicited donations, $300,000 and $117,000 respectively, to the Baltimore Community Foundation to fund continued operations of all City park pools through Labor Day. With these generous donations, pools at Cherry Hill, Roosevelt, Patterson Park, Riverside, and Clifton Park will be open today.
Both donors urge other local businesses to provide the additional $177,000 needed to keep 13 neighborhood walk-to pools open as well. Individuals or businesses should call Gregory Bayor, Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks at (410) 396-6132. Earlier this week, the Mayor announced an unsolicited donation of $90,000 from Grant Capital Management, Inc. to keep the Druid Hill Park Pool open.
“I am grateful for these generous gifts to help Baltimore City’s youth and families enjoy the rest of their summer in a cool and safe place,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “In a year when the City is facing serious budgetary challenges, it is refreshing to see that Baltimore business leaders are willing to take concrete action.”
“We are pleased to help keep the City's swimming pools open during this particularly hot summer,” said James A.C. Kennedy, chief executive officer and president of Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price Group.
Each park pool is able to serve as many as 1,200 citizens on a daily basis. Admission is $1.50 per two-hour session. Residents may also visit three indoor pools at Callowhill, Cherry Hill, and Chick Webb Aquatics Centers. For pool operating hours, please contact the Aquatics Division at (410) 396-3838.
Background on City Pool Funding:
This year, the City faced the worst fiscal crisis in modern history. Declining revenue and increased costs created an unprecedented $121 million deficit. Without additional revenue, the City faced the prospect of closing seven fire companies, laying off more than 200 sworn police officer and permanently closing 29 recreation centers and several swimming pools. In this preliminary budget scenario, seven City walk-to pools, six wading/splash pools and three indoor pools would have been closed during the summer.
As a result of new revenue passed by Mayor Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore City Council, $719 thousand in additional funds were approved to keep all City pools open for six weeks this summer. Also, $5 million was approved to keep all City recreation centers open throughout the summer. The Mayor’s Comprehensive Budget Plan fixed the $121 million deficit, fully funded our obligation to public schools, maintained every single police officer, and reduced fire company closures.
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