Neighbors argued Monday that instead of closing the Clover Reach Pool, Peachtree City should upgrade it to attract more users.

The potential closing of the pool was the topic of a public hearing held by the city’s Recreation Commission. The facility has been scrutinized in recent years by several City Council members who have argued the operating costs of $22,000 a year are serving far too few residents.

Recent improvements made to the pools, such as several new umbrellas and chairs, will help make the facility more pleasing to use, said Clover Reach resident Andre DeLorenzo, who made a presentation to the commission. He also said the fence needs to be upgraded, broken concrete should be repaired and picnic tables and grills should be brought back to the facility.

DeLorenzo also suggested that the city add a toddler swimming area, which the city’s other pools have but Clover Reach lacks. He added that neighbors in the Clover Reach subdivision would like to work with the city to improve the pool.

“It has been neglected for far too long,” DeLorenzo said.

City Leisure Services Director Randy Gaddo said the recreation department hasn’t wanted to pay for a facility upgrade since there has been a sentiment on the City Council the past several years that the pool should be closed.

The pool is located in a cul de sac off Sweetgum Road in the Clover Reach subdivision, a short distance from Kelly Drive and Ga. Highway 74. It is used for open swimming, classes and also as overflow for summer camps that arrive unannounced at the Kedron pool when it’s busy.

Clover Reach also serves as a backup pool when others have to be closed due to contamination, Gaddo said.

Clover Reach joins the Pebblepocket and Glenloch pools as being open during the summer, unlike the Kedron Aquatic Center which is open year-round.

The Clover Reach pool was initially owned by the subdivision homeowners association, which has since become inactive after the subdivisions covenants expired, officials said. The pool was turned over to the city more than 20 years ago.

There have been suggestions that the city turn the pool back over to the subdivision to let them operate it.

DeLorenzo asked that the city expand the pool hours particularly later in the evenings so parents who work in Atlanta have time to come home, have dinner and then take their families to the pool.

Currently the pool closes weekdays at 6:30 p.m.

DeLorenzo showed photos from several weeks ago that showed the restrooms at the pool dirty and cluttered because they were used for storage. But after the matter was brought to Gaddo’s attention, the restrooms were cleaned up, which was represented in photos taken Monday, Delorenzo noted.

DeLorenzo and others argued that if the city took the money it would take to close the pool and instead spend it on improving the pool, more people would come to the facility.

It costs roughly $22,000 a year to operate the pool in the summer months, Gaddo said. Though attendance at the pool from single day passes dipped to 589 in 2005, the number rebounded over the next two years to 1,193 such users in 2007, according to city figures.

Resident Lynda Wojcik said she supported closing the pool based on the numbers, but said if it was used more often she’d change her mind. She added that the City Council probably sees it the same way.

Delorenzo said if the city saw fit to close the Clover Reach pool, it should close the other city pools also.

"If you’re going to do this to us, you need to do it to everybody else,” he said.

The Recreation Commission is going to take the matter under consideration at the City Council’s request. Gaddo said the commission needed time to look at how this affects the city’s recreation master plan before a recommendation can be made to council.