Waterville area needs more affordable family activities

Living in Waterville for over half my life (I’m 21), I’ve seen many changes take place. Some I can’t figure out and one of them is the new cost of the public pool in Waterville last summer.

In 2018, a family of two (one adult and one child) could go swimming for around $11 a day. This summer, for a family of two, the daily rate was $23, an increase of $12 in one season; therefore, I could no longer afford to take my son to the pool, so we never went. I didn’t realize at first that the prices had changed and I found out about it when I arrived with my son, my mother, my sister and my son’s father and we were told that the cost for the day was $62 for a day at the municipal pool. We turned around. Who could afford it?

Another activity that was taken away from many of us here in Waterville was the bowling alley on West River Road. This building was converted into a church; however, no alternative to this activity has been taken so that people can continue to bowl. Arcades are another fun activity for younger audiences. however, the one on West River Road is a bar, so children under 21 are not allowed in.

There is very little to do here in Waterville for financially challenged working families, as the cost of entertainment is beyond their reach. I am simply asking for opportunities to be able to live in a city where all families can take advantage of all opportunities.

Kolbie Soltow

Waterville

Editor’s Note: The author is a student at Mid-Maine Regional Adult Community Education in Waterville.

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