VALDOSTA — With the help of a private resident, kids living in Valdosta Housing Authority neighborhoods will be able to swim for free this summer at the Mildred Hunter Center pool.

Roy Taylor, a local businessman, donated $1,000 to the city to buy kids pool passes for this summer. Last year, Taylor bought 50 kids pool passes with $500 donated.

He said he would continue to donate money to the Valdosta Housing Authority for children living at Hudson Dockett and Ora Lee West.

“As long as I live and I’m 86. It might not be long, so I’m trying to get rid of it in a hurry,” Taylor said, jokingly.

Andre Newson, with the Valdosta/Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority, said he teamed up with the housing authority for the first time this year to make sure all the kids living in both communities could go to pool for free.

The money donated by Taylor will go to help pay for scholarships and for any child not living at Hudson Dockett or Ora Lee West to go to the Mildred Hunter Community Center pool, Newson said.

Families were originally charged $10 a kid to use the pool for the entire summer, but that money was typically raised by VLPRA and Newson, so the kids didn’t have to pay anything.

Now, with the partnership of the VLPRA, the housing authority and Taylor, not only will low-income families be keeping cool during the summer time, they’ll have scholarships for football, cheerleading and other sports as well.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256