Real Vision For Newtown

To the Editor:

I was so impressed when I opened my Bee and read about Lawrence Haskel’s proposal for a real recreation center. It is so refreshing to read about someone with a real vision in Newtown. There is no question that $23 million (or more) is a lot of money, but at least it would finally make some good use of Fairfield Hills.

My wife and I have had the fortune of traveling extensively in Europe and have always been amazed how towns one quarter or less the size Newtown have these wonderful community centers with indoor recreational pools with water slides and wave machines, and saunas, steam rooms, snack bars, etc. You can always see how these places obviously get considerable use by community members and visitors and that they also act as a way bringing a community together.

Just imagine during this past rainy, miserable week if you could have grabbed your bathing suit and towel along with a good book and headed over to the rec center where you could have gone for a swim, sat on a lounge chair reading your book, and then grabbed lunch when you were ready. You might have even said “what bad weather.”

If we can find money for open space, buy a Fairfield Hills, build schools, etc, then we should be able to look long and hard at something as community building as such a rec center. Let’s hope that our civic leaders can stop being reactionary and become visionary and give this proposal the due consideration it deserves.

Christian Deschermeier

4 Black Walnut Drive, Newtown                             October 18, 2005