I was pleased to hear the city manager follow the leading of the citizens of Janesville. Thank you for saving some of my taxes. Now what else can we cut or curb spending on???

spen spend spend that is what everyone wants. lets live within our means and only buy what we can afford. if we have money left over at the end of the month then we can buy luxuries

oldtimer is spot on (scroll down).

There is absolutely nothing wrong w/ Rockport. It is the most underutilized facility in this city. Why doesn't someone look at making money by hosting competative matches at the only Olympic sized pool in, as far as I know, southwest, southcentral WI? The place closes when it is still very warm. Why not after school swim and into evening swim? I don't think it was even open Labor Day this year. Thats crazy. The city could and should open it up for laps at 6AM. There only need to be two gaurds for laps. If you put a facility to close to the interstate, your going to have bus loads of daytriping camp kids pileing off the road and into the water. In the Chicago area, citizens pay up to $300.00 per summer just to use facilities like Rockport.
I also think that Steve Mara from the city has done a great job of maintaining that facility day in and day out for at least the last 10 years. Unless I missed it, I haven't noticed anyone asking Steve his thoughts on the pool and its condition.

Examining our pools last summer, I think we have outstanding faciilities that just need to be updated. For example, fix the rusty stuff on the inner workings at Rockport, buy some more chairs and add some sort of provision for shade. Reopen the little pool at Riverside, and continue to enjoy the Lions Beach.

Did anyone besides me notice how much more use the beach got when it became a free facility?

I think our City Manager has done an excellent job and has great judgment. We're lucky to have him.

I think this question straddles many fences. yes, the city needs to focus on what is already here. Rockport pool AND Lions beach need to be a focus. A skate park would only be a solution if it offered more than just skating. Skating may be alive and kicking, but only to a select number of kids, primarily boys. Also, a centralized location needs to be addressed.

If money is going to be spent on a new facility, it should be a broader spectrum -definately something that encourages physical activity, but something that supports the arts as well.

Yes, we have the WMCA, but there are those who work very hard and still can't afford the membership fees. Despite the council's desire to turn a blind eye, there are a vast number of working underprivilaged families in this city, and the resources so the options should maintain an affordable user cost to offset the tax hike homeowners will have to endur. Perhaps coalating with the United Way may be an option?

It may sound like a pipedream, but if a little creativity was put into position, something outstanding could come of it.

Isnt it funny how we enjoyed Lions Beach for decades,without having to spend millions. Then our city manager pulled the life guards, put no money into it hoping everyone would quit swimming there. When you stop and think about it just what has he done for Janesville,It is time for him to go.

I don't know how much it would cost but i think why dont we wait. First build a new fair grounds and then put the aquatic center in the old fair grounds.

Obviously those who believe skate boarding is dead are never in the downtown area after business hours. It's alive and well ... and in the center of every street and empty parking lot. It's not only a safety hazard for those doing it who often aren't obeying the red stop lights and for those who are driving vehicles, but also for those who are trying to keep their properties maintained let alone preserve historic buildings.

What about the idea of a few splash pads scattered around the city. I thought that was a good idea and it is relatively cheap. Put one in Riverside where the wading pool was.

We don't need a skatepark anymore either. Do you really see a lot of kids out riding their skateboards anymore? Its a "dead" fad. A good thing would actually be for someone to build an actual waterpark in the Janesville/Beloit area. This would not be something that would be run by a city, but a private company. That would finally give kids in the area something to do in the summer.

He finally saw the hand writing on the wall, Iam sure it was the citizens that changed his mind, not his idea.

Finally, our City Manager "gets it". This is what the taxpayers want. Take care of what we have.

FORGET THE AQUATIC CENTER AND LETS GET SOMETHING THE KIDS CAN REALLY USE AND REALLY WANT, A SKATE PARK.