Chalking up the 2021 summer season at the Florence Aquatic Center as a loss, families and kids in the community feel left in the dark about its future. "We're all heartbroken. It literally is like shattering our hearts into a million pieces," said Florence Hammerhead mom Jenna Kemper. Kemper's three kids have been going to the pool since they were toddlers. It's the home for the Florence Hammerhead swim team. "We understood last year, so when they announced 2021 we weren't going to open, we didn't know where to go," said Kemper. The team found a new, temporary home at the Burlington YMCA, but for people like lifeguard Davy Lively, who grew up coming to this pool, it's a special place. "I worked really hard to keep this pool going, and my sister worked here, worked really hard to keep this pool going," said Lively.Kemper has yet to get a solid answer from city officials about what will happen to the Florence Aquatic Center, but she says a council member told her that the city is looking for other, less costly uses for the location, something that would serve the entire city, year-round. Kemper says this pool is a life-saver for many kids in Northern Kentucky."One in four children in Boone County goes hungry in the summer, so if they're not in school, where do you think they are? They're here," said Kemper.Kemper has started an online petition to keep the pool open.
Chalking up the 2021 summer season at the Florence Aquatic Center as a loss, families and kids in the community feel left in the dark about its future.
"We're all heartbroken. It literally is like shattering our hearts into a million pieces," said Florence Hammerhead mom Jenna Kemper.
Kemper's three kids have been going to the pool since they were toddlers. It's the home for the Florence Hammerhead swim team.
"We understood last year, so when they announced 2021 we weren't going to open, we didn't know where to go," said Kemper.
The team found a new, temporary home at the Burlington YMCA, but for people like lifeguard Davy Lively, who grew up coming to this pool, it's a special place.
"I worked really hard to keep this pool going, and my sister worked here, worked really hard to keep this pool going," said Lively.
Kemper has yet to get a solid answer from city officials about what will happen to the Florence Aquatic Center, but she says a council member told her that the city is looking for other, less costly uses for the location, something that would serve the entire city, year-round.
Kemper says this pool is a life-saver for many kids in Northern Kentucky.
"One in four children in Boone County goes hungry in the summer, so if they're not in school, where do you think they are? They're here," said Kemper.
Kemper has started an online petition to keep the pool open.
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