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Senior resident urges Richardson to keep neighborhood pools open later after schools start
Summary
Dr. Steven Butler, a 42‑year Richardson resident, urged council to revise pool‑closing policies that shut neighborhood pools when school starts; he suggested hiring older lifeguards or building an adults‑only pool.
Dr. Steven Butler, a long‑time Richardson resident and self‑described city historian, used the visitors’ forum Monday to ask city leaders to reconsider policies that close neighborhood pools when schools resume in August.
Butler told council that closing pools based on school calendars effectively excludes older adults who rely on pools for exercise and quiet swimming time. He cited U.S. Census‑Reporter figures for Richardson — roughly 118,000 residents with 16% (about 18,880 people) aged 65 or older and 31% (about 36,580) aged 50 or older — and argued that the city should consider either hiring non‑student lifeguards to extend pool operations or building a dedicated pool for older adults that could remain open after school starts or even year‑round.
Why this matters Butler framed his concern as access and equity for older residents who do not have set aside adult‑only swim hours and who lose weeks of pool availability when the city closes neighborhood pools early in August. He asked the council to consider alternatives including hiring older lifeguards or building a partially indoor senior pool that could be open after the school season ends.
Ending Council acknowledged Butler’s comments during the public‑comment period; no formal action was taken during the meeting. Butler urged the city to take the suggestion under serious consideration.
