Dinkins Pool in East Selma Park may be open by summer.
The Selma City Council on March 26 approved spending almost $66,000 to repair Dr. William H. Dinkins Pool on N. Division Street. Four lifeguards are included in the budget approved by the City Council. The city will also renovate the bathrooms and the bath house at the park, thanks in part to a grant from the Edmundites that will cover $7,500 of the $10,500 cost.
City Council President Billy Young said he wants the Selma Police Department to give the council a plan for how they will provide additional security for the pool.
“I want a safety plan for public safety,” Young said. He said while he was pleased that the city has arranged for lifeguards to protect kids in the pool, “I want people safe at the pool as well.” He noted that “some cities are getting away from pools” because of public safety concerns.
President Pro Tem Clay Carmichael was the sole vote against providing funds for the pool, citing issues with the pool’s foundation as well as high maintenance and liability costs.
City Councilman Michael Johnson said he hopes the pool will be open this summer.
Retired teacher and coach Houston Young urged the City Council to repair the track at Memorial Stadium so that it could be used by local track and field athletes and perhaps host regional track meets.
Young said that years ago more than a dozen local athletes attended regional track meets. Now there are perhaps only one or two because there is no track in the area where they can practice and compete.
“The city deserves better than what they are getting at the stadium,” Young said.
“This would cost more than a couple of dollars,” Young said. “It would cost $2 or $3 million. If you do something, do everything. Kids are looking for something to do.”
He said if the city had the proper facilities, it could attract regional track meets. He said while the city doesn’t have enough hotel rooms to host large overnight meets, a good track and field facility could attract daylong meets that would generate business for gas stations and restaurants.
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