Sioux City residents spoke both against and in support of a proposal that would demolish a large Sioux City park swimming pool and put a college stadium at that site.
Morningside University officials have asked the city of Sioux City to purchase Lewis Park and the adjacent pool, so they can build a college baseball stadium.
During a Tuesday evening public input meeting on that proposal, several people said they would hate to lose the large, traditional Lewis Pool that they said has been a well-used facility for 44 years.
As first reported by the Sioux City Journal, other people said classic large pools are on the way out, in an era of the city having seven splash pads, plus also the Riverside Aquatic Center.
The Sioux City Council in March heard about substantial needs to keep Lewis Pool in working order. The discussion includes whether to continue to keep the Lewis Pool operable, or to sell it to Morningside University.
College officials want to buy the parcel for $350,000 and invest up to $125,000 to create a public green space, including recreational amenities.
If Lewis Pool is razed, that would leave the Leif Erickson Park Pool as the sole remaining 50-meter pool in the city.
Last year, the three city pools had a combined 34,000 users, with almost half of that at Riverside alone.
