Thanks for work on park

It looks as if the people of Portland are going to get one of the big items on their Christmas list.
After an outbreak of good sense, maturity and mutual respect, it looks as if a new Portland Pool — excuse us, Portland Water Park — is headed our way.
It’s not likely to arrive in 2015, but there have been more than a few folks who believed that timetable was a long shot at best. If all goes well, the city’s now looking at a 2016 grand opening.
But the design approved by the Portland Park Board looks like it’s going to be something special.
It meets the recreational needs of families and young children, and also meets the competition standards of the summer swim team.
The last thing that’s needed right now is a re-hash of how squabbles, personalities and tactics that put the project in doubt.
Instead, we’ll just applaud everyone involved for stepping up, figuring out a way through their disagreements, sincerely trying to re-establish lines of communication and focusing on getting the job done.
In a way, that was the real Christmas gift to the community: Getting it done.
Our thanks to everyone involved. The journey wasn’t easy, but it ended in the right place.
So thanks, and have a Merry Christmas. You’ve earned it. —J.R.