I, too, leave Howard County to use the indoor pool. ("Howard has high demand for 50-meter swim facility," letters, July 31). My pool of choice is the Fairland athletic complex, in Prince George's County. Fairland also has a large ice skating rink and a gymnastic facility.

Prince George's County, like Montgomery County, has four indoor pools and numerous outdoor pools. So why are we so far behind?

Montgomery and Prince George's are fortunate to have a commission responsible for the acquisition and management of recreational facilities. The Maryland General Assembly chartered the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1927. The administrative consolidation in the two counties has netted 52,000 acres devoted to recreation. We should look to this success story for guidance.

Unfortunately, the Howard County Recreation and Parks budget tends to be cut when times are tough. Thus, it behooves the county planners to be creative and develop some independent support and partnerships within the county or we will continue to lag behind.

Recreational and exercise facilities are not an option. They are a necessity. Physical activity improves quality of life. It helps prevent obesity and keeps us healthy. Facilities can provide additional sports for high school students, with a concomitant increase in the potential for scholarships. Let's build some world-class athletic facilities.

Lynn Bosco

Ellicott City

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