(Radio Iowa) – Changes in tax structures mandated by the legislature are forcing smaller Iowa communities to make difficult cuts to recreational programs, like in the northeast Iowa town of Waverly which is having to close its community swimming pool. Anne Duncan is coach of the Waverly swim club, which serves about 80 kids during the summer. Duncan says those children say they feel as though they’ve lost a home.

“They’ve found a place and they have found a community in swimming,” she says, “and they felt like that was threatened when the pool wasn’t going to open.” The summer swimming team has been a staple in Waverly for nearly 50 years, but the city was forced to cut one-point-eight million dollars from its budget, and pool services were a part of that. Duncan says she’s concerned about the future safety of the kids who won’t have access to the pool, swim team or not.

“When those kids become teenagers and young adults, are we going to see an uptick in aquatic-related accidents?” Duncan says. “Especially for families that might have a financial barrier to private lessons or group lessons and they never get that formal education, going to the pool is the only way they learn.”

Duncan says her team members have petitioned the city council with their concerns. The team involves youth from five additional communities outside Waverly. The town is considering building a new pool, which would displace the swim club and residents for at least two more years.