Thousands of budding soccer players are begging for more fields, according to Roger Stephenson, president of Decatur Youth Soccer Association. Stephenson estimates that there are 1,000 to 1,200 youths playing soccer in some kind of program in the city. Allen Smith wouldn't use a Southwest pool, but he wants one anyway. It would be great to have another pool because it would give us more flexibility on this one. Lack of pool space means citizens and school swim teams must share the Aquadome.
Some citizens complain about wanting longer night and weekend hours for swimming.
Why it never happened As the city's population grew in the Southwest in the early 1980s, city planners predicted the need for a recreation center there. In 1983, they even asked for 176 acres for Southwest schools and recreational needs. But lack of money and other wishes kept three previous city councils from pursuing the project, said the planning director. As far back as 1967, the city had a master plan calling for a 50-meter pool, recreation center and ballfields at Wilson Morgan Lake. The need has long been there, but the money and the commitment from public officials have not been.