Editor,

The North Whidbey Parks and Recreation District owns the only local public swimming pool in Oak Harbor and also owns the dog park and two ball fields. A levy to support the pool and the parks district is on the ballot Nov. 7.

The levy amount is not an increase, but keeps the rate at the same level it has been for the past six years. If the levy fails to garner 60 percent of the votes cast, the pool and the dog park will almost surely close.

This is not a bluff. Levy failure would mean no swim lessons, no family swim recreation time, no swim teams of any kind, no senior aerobics, no opportunity for Navy PRTs and so on. The pool will close — as will the dog park.

I am hopeful that all members of the community, including the school district, the Navy, the city council, senior citizens and all eligible voters including dog owners, will step forward to support the levy. Even if you don’t swim or use the pool, think of the kids, families and adults learning to swim and who have so few year-around opportunities for healthy recreation. The nearest public pool is in Anacortes and costs significantly more. Tell your friends and neighbors to please mark their ballots “YES” for the NWPRD levy on or before Nov. 7.

AL LUNEMANN

Coupeville