The Washington Y makes a real difference

July 6, 2016

Washington, Iowa

To the Editor:

It is hard to put into words what the Y means to me and my family. When I interviewed for a job here at Washington Mfg. 40 years ago, my soon-to-be boss and his wife gave us a tour of Washington. We drove by the Y, the schools, the hospital, the library, and the parks (in that order). My boss made sure we knew how great it was to have a Y in Washington, and we got a family membership within a week.

Back then, a lot of talk around town seemed to be that Mount Pleasant and Fairfield attracted business and had ?this and that.? There seemed to be a sense that Washington wasn?t improving! But that has definitely changed. We now have new and remodeled schools, a new Kirkwood center, a new library, a modern outdoor pool, a beautiful downtown and bandshell, and a destination type casino that has funded all types of beneficial projects over the last 10 years.

The casino is an example of what can happen if citizens understand that new and different opportunities have to exist to attract people to any area. That first casino vote nearly failed. It?s difficult now to imagine what our county would look like and how many nonprofit projects would have failed to materialize without money from the casino foundation. The casino has made a difference.

Guess what else has made a bigger difference and touched more lives ? the Washington Y! I continue to be in the Y almost weekly for Kiwanis meetings. Sure, Kiwanis can meet somewhere else, but where can you walk in the door at 6 a.m., be greeted by friendly staff, see friends that are coming to exercise, go to your meeting, and then see different people on the way out. The Y makes a difference in people?s lives.

Recreation is a quality-of-life factor that folks consider when choosing to locate or stay in a community. The organization that provides most of the physical wellness and exercise activities in the area is in dire need of a new facility. Despite remodeling, the aging Y facility does not meet the needs of its clientele. The Y is still trying to operate one of the oldest indoor pools in the nation.

Like most citizens, I don?t like tax increases. But I prefer taxes be raised a bit to retain a known community benefit ? namely, recreational opportunities. I prefer to contribute a few more tax dollars to support a proven provider ? the Y ? than to be without its programs or pay much higher taxes to have the city develop and fully fund recreation.

Money for a new Y has been raised through various grants and the generosity of many citizens, but more funding is needed to build a facility with a modern indoor pool.

Your vote is important. Please vote ?Yes? to help the Washington Y continue to make a difference!

Ted Drain