A group of neighborhood children need the community’s help to keep their pool open.

One of the joys of summer, especially for children, is a trip to the swimming pool. For dozens of children in East Lawrence, that pool is at the County Fair Swim Club, Maple Lane and Clare Road. The pool is nowhere near as fancy as the Lawrence Aquatic Center downtown, but it’s within walking distance for many youngsters whose working parents can’t get them to the big pool. For those children, the County Fair pool is a major source of recreation and entertainment – but it’s also in some financial trouble.

Two years ago, the community stepped up to help keep the pool open by donating money for new plumbing fixtures. Now, a leaky floor again threatens the pool’s future. Several people already have volunteered to donate labor and provide concrete at cost, but the pool operators need about $4,000 to pay for a concrete pump truck and finish the work.

Neighbors own shares in the pool and sell family memberships at $225 each to help with operating costs. Children whose families aren’t members can do chores to earn daily passes to the pool. It’s a true community effort to provide supervision and recreation to a group of children who might not have either on many hot summer days.

The $4,000 isn’t a huge amount and it could have a huge impact on some local children. Donations can be sent to Missi Pfeifer, the pool manager, at P.O. Box 976, Lawrence 66044. Let’s hope the community once again shows its support for this pool and the youngsters it serves.