The next step at Peter Pan
Jodi L. Ellis, Emporia
Originally published 12:54 p.m., May 22, 2008
Updated 12:54 p.m., May 22, 2008
It was really a joyful sight to see hundreds of children and adults playing on the new green turf and the playground equipment at Peter Pan Park on the Sunday the playground was finished. They finished it and did a wonderful job! William Allen White and his family would be quite proud.
Five generations in my family have been able to enjoy the 52-acre park. The Cowan and the Day families are my antecedents, maternally. My great-great-grandparents came from Scotland and Ireland, met in New York, married and eventually came by covered wagon to Lyon County — mainly to teach and farm.
My great-grandfather, D.P. Cowan, was sheriff for two terms and my grandfather was born in the county jail! He was Charles H. Cowan, writer of many editorial letters to W.A.W. He also published two books of poetry and prose.
After Mary White passed, W.A.W. was asking for suggestions of a name for the land he was donating for the park. “Peter Pan” was Mary’s nickname. My grandpa suggested the name and W.A.W. liked it and that’s how Peter Pan Park was named. I’m proud to know my family had a historic story to tell.
Now, can we please get back the Peter Pan Swimming Pool? Our children really need that pool back where it was.
scrutinizer (anonymous) says...
Wow! Are you serious? The city loses money on the one pool it has now. Do you really think we can afford to do that in two places? Four and half million dollars to build it and we spend over $90,000 a year supporting its use by a mere 12,000 people. How about a little promotion by the management?
May 24, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
How about promote competition among swim teams, maybe start a league. Swimming day camps? Swimming lessons where kids get bussed from their local elementary school?
May 24, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
equalrights (anonymous) says...
If the current pool wasn't so far away from all the children, it might make more money. How many children are able to 'drive' over there themselves.
May 24, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scrutinizer (anonymous) says...
If memory serves, in the first year the pool opened, the L-cat and school buses departing from playgrounds were used to transport kids whose parents couldn't take them there. Response was poor and the service discontinued.
The fact is, the pool needed a 10 acre site to be built on and where it is now is where it was possible to find a site after much looking took place. Now that it is there, those who will use it need to be able to get there and a little encouragement could start a trend. Could the Rec Commission revisit trying to help in this capacity?
May 26, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
equalrights (anonymous) says...
I didn't realize they had those services. That is a great idea! With more publicity I think it would continue to be a great service.
May 26, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
Any kids that attend the Rec sponsored "summer s-cape" programs use the pool every week. They are bussed there from the schools. Christian School summer program also swims there weekly. Many of the summer care programs utilize the aquatics center frequently. My family attended the Friday night famiy swim quite frequently. From my personal perspective as a working mom whose kids attend summer rec spoonsored programs, my kids are spending plenty of time at the pool while being shuttled back and forth.
May 27, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cheryl (anonymous) says...
Because the pool is in clear view of southbound travelers on the turnpike, I'd like to see a billboard near the pool with directions on how to get there. The aquacenter might be a welcome rest stop for travelers with kids in the car.
There would also need to be directional signs for the pool at the turnpike exit, and for now anyway, that is a total disaster area.
May 27, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mwilliams (anonymous) says...
USNretired...
We have a swim team here in Emporia already we have been around for many many years. We hold a swim meet every year in July at the Aquatic Center. We also practice there in the mornings and evening during the week We are a small team and wish we could get more clubs so come to Emporia because we have a great facility to host meets.
May 27, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )