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Western Montgomery County speakers press council to accelerate Poolesville community center and fund pool bubble
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Summary
Residents and students from Western Montgomery County urged the county council to speed up construction of a Western County community center and to fund a seasonal 'pool bubble' that would allow the Sarah E. outdoor pool in Poolesville to operate year-round, reducing travel burdens for swim teams and families.
Speakers from Western Montgomery County told the Montgomery County Council that a community center in the Poolesville area should be accelerated and that a temporary pool enclosure (a "pool bubble") for the local outdoor pool would provide year-round access for residents and school teams.
Charlotte Boucher, who represents the Up County Prevention Network, said a centrally located community center in Poolesville would "provide our young people opportunities to access services, participate in a variety of constructive activities, develop personal interests, and build community among their peers." Boucher described the area as low-density with limited public transportation and said reliable local facilities are especially important for youth who cannot drive.
Link Hoeing of the Fair Access Committee for Western County urged the council to move the Western County community center project up from the current schedule, saying the plan on the table would not allow construction to start until 2029 with completion projected in 2030. He also called for funding for a cost-efficient pool bubble at the Sarah E. outdoor pool to provide year-round swim access and expand capacity for lessons and competitions. Hoeing said the committee developed a budget and technology review for the bubble as a lower-cost alternative to building a new indoor pool.
Poolesville student Ethan Lee described long winter travel times for swim practice — "a 35‑minute drive each way" — and said the lack of a local indoor facility imposes time and academic burdens on student-athletes. Lee said a pool bubble would benefit "over 8,000 people in the Poolesville community and surrounding areas" by reducing commute times and easing crowding at other county pools; he also noted the pool had "almost 17,000 admissions in just a little over three months" last year.
Speakers urged the council to consider the small-dollar investments that could have large local impact, including clinic space in the community center and a pool bubble that would support swim teams, lessons and rehabilitation use. The public hearing concluded after panels of in-person and virtual speakers presented testimony on the FY26 capital budget and CIP amendments.
