Grassroots Support for a Swimming Hole in Houston

In a city as hot in the summers as Houston, the idea of a swimming hole probably seems pretty appealing. Can an idea floated in a local newspaper column and backed by interested and passionate locals come to fruition?

1 minute read

November 28, 2014, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Lisa Gray reports that an idea to build a swimming hole in Houston is gaining steam in the form of an advocacy website supported by a pro-bono team called houstonneedsaswimminghole.com.

Gray writes about the details of the proposition so far: "On a tract of at least ten acres in central Houston, they proposed creating a manmade swimming hole, one that would use plants and natural processes to filter bayou water until it was not only safe for swimming but crystal-clear. They cited similar projects in Australia and Minneapolis. And they guessed that they'd need, oh, $6 million to $10 million for its construction."

Sherwood Design Engineers, which employs the trio behind the website, is undertaking feasibility studies, and, yes, there's a Kickstarter

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 in Houston Chronicle

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