Dear residents of KPW,

  When I first moved here about 8 years ago we rented a house in front of Lakeview Swim Club.   The whole pool culture of Northern Virginia was foreign to me, but with three children, two of them young boys, we quickly embraced everything about the pool. My husband is retired military, and we have lived in many places.  I have never seen anything like what goes on at these pools.  The shear number of pools, tucked away in neighborhoods all over the region, and the fantastic Swim and Dive opportunities are unparallel. I am constantly amazed by how much the pools contribute to these neighborhoods.

  For several years the boys either swam, dove or did both.  I have been the dive representative, and am currently the Vice President on our Board.  Now that I have a more complete understanding of what it takes to make these pools viable I would like to make a plea to everyone.

  I am asking all of you who are not members of a pool to please consider making an annual donation to one or all of the pools in our neighborhood. I cannot speak for Commonwealth or Kings Ridge, but I know at Lakeview we would like to make improvements that are simply not in the budget, and often it feels like we are trying to do more with less. 

  Think of the pool as a vital part of our community.  The pools are a focal point during the summer months.  It is a place for our children to go, where we feel they are safe and out of harms way.  They improve our property values.  And we all know how detrimental it is to have one close up. 

   In many of the newer developments there are mandatory Homeowners Associations, and dues are required.  The greater good dictates homeowners support the common areas, like the tennis courts, basketball courts and pools.  In older neighborhoods like ours that do not have a mandatory Homeowners Association, there is nothing to keep these pools operational, outside membership fees.  There have been several articles in the paper highlighting the plight of the older pools, and many of the pools in Northern Virginia are at a tipping point.  Please consider supporting the pool(s) of your choice, so that we can remain a part of your community.

Sincerely,

Barbara Alexander