By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MIDDLETOWN - Retired state Sen. Barry Levey fondly remembers his first job as a clothes "basket boy" at Sunset Pool, and he didn't want to see the city pool close this summer.

So Levey, an attorney and the Manchester Inn's managing partner, has asked a couple of friends to kick in $45,000 to make sure families can enjoy both Sunset and Douglass pools this year. City Council eliminated $100,000 in pool funding to erase a $4.7 million deficit in the city budget approved in December.

"Sunset Park was my whole existence growing up. That was my first job, at 10 cents an hour," Levey says. "It doesn't seem right to deprive kids today for the summer."

Levey, childhood friend Perry Thatcher - the city councilman who recently sold land to the city for the new Middletown Regional Hospital - and Akers Packaging owner Bill Akers have promised to fund part of the pool operations. They also have paid for the city's July 4th fireworks for three years.

"We're all lifelong Middletown residents, and we're trying to do whatever we can," Levey says.

Mayor Bob Wells says he hopes others come forward with donations. But if enough private funds can't be raised, Levey says: "We'll get them open, whatever it takes."

Pool operations in 2005 remain a question. City Manager Ron Olson says both pools need major repairs.

Wells says one alternative is putting a parks and recreation levy on the November ballot. "That way it's up to the people. So if we close the pools next year, we can say, 'Hey, you didn't support it,' " he says.

Olson will report to council March 2 on possible pool efficiencies, such as staggering hours or alternating days at the two pools.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com