New Britain herald., 1923-04-27
THE SWIMMING POOL

this paper today signed Stanley
 Quarter" which at least purports to
 represent the feeling Of some citizens
 of that neighborhood. A similar pro- test by the Parent Teachers associa- tion Of the Stanley School has been given publicity, and today another in- diyidual protest is registered in addi- tion to the communication mention- ed.
 These facts are stated, not for the purpose of denouncing the swimming pool, but rather for the purpose of &C., centuating the necessity of looking into the situation before steps are taken to establish the pool. The first "a possible s5o,ooo to be spent upon it. This sum was later reduced to $25.- ooo. Mayor Paonessa, who is the ardent advocate of the pool, has stat ed that he never had any idea of ap-
 
 The sum of S5,oo0 was the limit" as far as he was concerned Undoubtedly the Mayor is moved by a desire to give the people something that he has said he would try to give them and is inspired by the best of motives He wants the young people to have this pool for their pleasure and advantage. But the mayor like other people, may possibly be mistaken as to the feel ing in his neighborhood regarding the pool, outside of the desire of the young people who would use it, and the point to be emphasized now, in regard to the swimming pool as in re- gard to that other matter of the auto- mobilist camp for tourists, is that no action sholld be taken that will de- prive residents of the district where swimming pool would be located or where the camp would be placed, of the benefits they had right to expect would come to them from living in that neighborhood
 Simply stated the right of the peo- pie should not be taken away unless l a great public necessity demands such | action. If the establishment of a | swimming pool would so alter the at mosphere of the Stanley Q0rter that a considerable portion of its people | would lose a valuable asset such as | pleasure in their homes. the pool | should not be built, for no great pub- l lie necessity calls for the pool If, | however, the great majority of the | people living in that quarter approve, and the disapproval comes from one, [ two or three isolated persons-which | does not seem to be the case--the | public welfare should be considered. The same is true in regard to the es- fablishment of the automobilists' camp. And apropos of tsis latter mat ter one person who purchased proper ty recently near the place which is being considered for such camp stated to the writer that he would put his place on the market tomorrow" if he felt that such a camp would be locat- ed there to bring automobiles past his door in a steady stream.
 This newspaper had advocated the plan of zoning the city so that all sec tions would at least maintain their present standards; so that the charac- ter of any neighborhood would not be lowered in the future by change In the character of the buildings put up. The automobilist camp and the swimming pool might not come within the provisions of any zoning regula- lions, but the same idea permeates both. When people buy or lease pro perty they have 8 right 10 expect that no public action will be taken to de- prive them of any of the benefits ex- pected to come from building or liv- Ing in that locality--unless, of course, B great public necessity arises An au ,omoble camp or swimming pool ioes not constitute a great public necessity" Neither should be estab- ished unless the overwhelming public sentiment of the people in that locali- y coincides with the overwhelming public sentiment of the whole city, lnd unless both show a desire for hese things.