It is a clear summer day, with the temperature at 85 degrees and rising, and the perfect thing right now would be to go for a swim at the Washington Park or Jim Stone pools. However, that is no longer an option. That sucks, but okay. Hey, what about the Community Center? Maybe go shoot some hoops or go to the library. Wait, that is no longer an option either. 
    This is the possible future for Escondido.
    Recently there has been talk of budget cuts in Escondido. With those budget cuts, would come the closing of Escondido’s two community pools, Washington Park Pool and the Jim Stone Pool, along with other recreational parks.
    This would mean the end of all aquatic sports for the Escondido High School District. No more water polo, no more swim for anyone. It would also be the end of ACE, which is a swim and summer water polo program for kids and teens.   
    "I think everyone is going to be really sad. It’s a huge loss for the city of Escondido," water polo and swim coach Kevin Weinberger said.
    All the aquatic athletes at the three high schools in Escondido and kids who use the pool facility will have nowhere to go to keep busy and have fun.
    The city says the closures are needed to lower the current debt the city of Escondido is facing, but in fact they would then be facing a bigger problem. These teens would then have to find other activities to do which could then cause more of them to commit delinquencies after school ends.
    This school already struggles with a lack of participation in sports and spirit, and closing the pools, and along with them, the aquatics teams, would not help the situation. Unfortunately, there isn’t much they can do to help the situation since it is a matter for the city to decide. Many student-athletes go to the pool to find a place to relieve themselves of some of the stress and struggles that they go through each day.
    "I don’t know what I would do with myself. Water sports are my life. It’s like I eat, sleep, and swim," Varsity swim captain Maria Glorioso said.
    This would also mean the pools will no longer be open during summer, when many kids and teens go to the pool to relax and enjoy their summer in a swimming pool.
    During the summer club water polo teams also use the pools at night along with the kids who swim in it during the day. All these programs will have be gone and have no other alternatives to take their place.
    "There have been studies on other cities with similar closures and crime has gone up as well as high school drop outs," Weinberger said.