An open letter to the Johnson City Commission and the Board of Education

The Johnson City Aquatics Task Force (JCATF) met on March 17. The task force was created to bring together a diverse group of Johnson City citizens with a vested interest in seeing aquatics facilities and programming expanded in the city. The discussion centered around the immediate needs of the aquatics community on the heels of the announcement to close Freedom Hall Pool. Members openly shared their knowledge, insights and perspectives. As a result of our discussion, the JCATF calls upon the Johnson City Commission and the Board of Education to come together in a joint work session prior to their next respective meetings to address the aquatic programming needs in the community and, more specifically, the future of Freedom Hall Pool. The JCATF encourages the Board of Education and the City Commission to: Promote dialog and create transparency between these two groups of public officials about the issues relevant to the announcement to close Freedom Hall Pool. Share any and all knowledge about the current state and future viability of, and plans for, the Freedom Hall Pool facility. Specifically, address whether repairs to Freedom Hall Pool are feasible or whether efforts should be prioritized elsewhere and we move forward without Freedom Hall Pool as an option. If it is determined that repairing Freedom Hall Pool is a viable option, create a plan of action which addresses its current condition, taking into account the short-term and long-term impact on and the needs of the Johnson City community. Bring that plan forward to the April 2 City Commission meeting and the April 6 Board of Education meeting, respectively, as an agenda item. Promote and allow feedback and questions from concerned citizens. Going forward, implement the specifics of that plan in the most expeditious manner possible. For decades, Johnson City has recognized the need to provide more aquatic programming and updated aquatic infrastructure for the community. The 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the 2025 Aquatic Feasibility Study bear this out. The condition of Freedom Hall Pool can be the wake-up call needed to progress from studies and polls and move forward to implementation and progress. Chris Coraggio Science Hill and Barracuda swimming club coach State senator is on point with priorities ... or is he? Thank the lord for people like Rusty Crowe. I mean how can we have more jobs with livable wages, health care that you can afford, housing that's affordable (and without the structure not crumble within a few years) and groceries (such a wonderful word) if we don't put up plaques for Charlie Kirk or display the Ten Commandments in public schools. Thankfully he's got his priorities in the right place! Maybe displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools would help pre-teens and teens be aware of their parents voting for and worshiping a man that has broken at least 12 of those! East Tennessee would be better served if they would display, learn about and live the Beatitudes! Oh, that's right, they don't tell you to support the wealthy so they can trickle it down to the trailer parks! Ever get the feeling if this area went "blue" Rusty would suddenly change back to "D" and swear he's always been a "D"? Stephen Clark Gray An error on my part In my recent letter regarding aquatic facilities in Johnson City, published on 3/13/2026, I incorrectly stated that the pool at the ETSU Recreation Complex is not regulation length and cannot be used for competitions. The pool is in fact 25 yards long and is regulation length for short-course competition. However, it is not open to the general public for individual use. I regret the error and appreciate the opportunity to correct the record. Susan Rollins Johnson City