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Roxboro pastor urges commissioners to keep public pool in CIP and support a Person County pool
Summary
Reverend Dr. Matt Bowman of Roxboro Presbyterian urged the board to keep the splash pad in the 2027 CIP and support building a public pool to provide recreation, jobs and equitable access to swim lessons.
During the informal comment period on May 19, Reverend Dr. Matt Bowman, pastor of Roxboro Presbyterian Church and a Person County resident, asked the Board of Commissioners to support building a public pool in Person County.
Bowman said a local pool would provide a safe place for exercise and recreation, create jobs and retain local spending that currently goes to neighboring communities. He said his family drives to Chapel Hill for his 3-year-old son's weekly swim lessons and that some families in the county lack the time or financial resources to travel for lessons.
Bowman asked commissioners to "keep the splash pad in the 2027 CIP and support in every way possible the building of public pool in Person County."
The comment period concluded after Bowman's remarks and no formal board action was taken at the meeting on the pool request; the presentation was recorded as informal public comment.
Quotes - "All children regardless of race or class should have a safe, inclusive, affordable place to swim," said Reverend Dr. Matt Bowman.
Clarifying details - Bowman said about 80 foster children live in Person County during the prior agenda item; that figure was part of the foster-care proclamation presented earlier but is not a figure he attributed to the pool request.
No vote or directive on construction or CIP changes was taken during the May 19 meeting.
