Fairmont Needs the Community Center

To the Editor:

Fairmont desperately needs the community center and a year-round, indoor swimming pool. It’s surprising to me a town of this size does not already have this in place. It’s important because it promotes exercise, which increases physical health, mental health, and overall sense of wellbeing. A swimming pool would provide year-round swimming and classes for children, adults, persons with disabilities, and people with pain such as arthritis as swimming provides a joint-friendly form of fitness. Many physical therapy patients use pools for exercise to improve their mobility issues. Having an indoor pool is also helpful to persons who cannot be in the sun due to photosensitive medications.

The community center would entice future growth to our city. Future businesses and industries would see that Fairmont has things to do in the winter aside from normal outdoor winter activities, and that it promotes health and wellbeing for its citizens. The community center is smart growth. A few years ago, I worked in a small town in Iowa. I was hired by a company to work in a hospital, and I was given the choice of two towns to work in. The best choice was a town right off I-90 so I could return home to Fairmont easily, but it had no community center. The other was 30 miles off I-90 with a longer driving time, but it had a community center. I chose the town that had the community center and the longer driving time. It was a wise decision, as I attended events at the center.

The community center will provide social connectivity to residents. People will have a destination, a place to exercise, and a place to get to know others; it will create a sense of belonging. It will promote physical activity to persons who may not feel comfortable in joining one of our wonderful gyms. It will help to alleviate social isolation; it will give patrons a sense of purpose.

The YMCA provides excellent programming and helps children, adults, and vulnerable populations. When my son was an infant, I used our local YMCA for daycare and was highly confident in their skills and the care my son received. I also took group exercise classes there. It was a vital part of our community and something I desperately missed when moving to Fairmont over 20 years ago.

The benefits of a community center far outweigh any perceived issues and concerns. The community center for Fairmont is a winning enterprise. Fairmont needs to invest in their citizens, and the community center is a great way to do it. I am looking forward to utilizing the community center, especially the swimming pool, when it is built.

Jolynne Bockman, MSW

Fairmont