City Administrator, Mark McFarland Talks About Proposition SWIM
The Columbia Park Municipal Swimming Pool was opened in 1958. The first renovation of the pool took place twenty years later in 1978. This renovation repaired and replaced equipment that was wearing out. Sometime in the late 1980s, the pool again went through a renovation process. This time the renovation was much more extensive than the one in 1978. This renovation kept the pool going for many years. Over the past ten or so years, the Columbia Park Municipal Swimming Pool simply began to wear out.
The Columbia Park Municipal Swimming Pool was opened in 1958. The first renovation of the pool took place twenty years later in 1978. This renovation repaired and replaced equipment that was wearing out. Sometime in the late 1980s, the pool again went through a renovation process. This time the renovation was much more extensive than the one in 1978. This renovation kept the pool going for many years. Over the past ten or so years, the Columbia Park Municipal Swimming Pool simply began to wear out. The chemical distribution system failed to constantly work, the bathhouse became obsolete and needed to be replaced, and the pool started to lose a large amount of water every day. Sixty years of chlorine and other chemicals began to turn the concrete back into sand. By July of 2021, it became clear that our Municipal Pool was in its last season.
The city council decided to seek to build a new “Aquatic Center” to replace the pool. This Aquatic Center will be constructed to meet the needs of all ages in our community and surrounding area. This Aquatic Center will not be constructed like the current city pool. This Center will have 6,250 square feet of swimming area, a Lazy River where water aerobics will be held, Lap Lanes, a Zero entry play structure for easy entry, a Splash Pad area for younger children, two Water Slides, a Rock Climbing wall, and may include Basketball Goals and a Zip Line. Some of the features have not been firmly established at this time.0. There will also be a new Concession Stand, Family Changing Areas, and it will become the new home for Rory the Municipal Pool Whale.
The estimated cost to build this facility is approximately $3.5 million. The Park Hills City Council placed a bond issue on the Apr 5, 2022ballot to provide the funding for this Aquatic Center. If passed the bond initiative will increase taxes by $.41 per $100 of the assessed value of property. This proposition must receive 57% YES votes to pass. Anything less and Proposition Swim will fail. Informational meetings will be held at the Central High School Auditorium on Thursday, March 24th at 6:30 PM, on Monday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 AM. Come join us for these informational events.
On April 5, 2022, the citizens of Park Hills will decide the fate of Proposition Swim. If passed, construction will begin in the fall of 2022 and the goal is to have the Municipal Aquatic Center open before Memorial Day 2023. Should the proposition fail, the existing pool will still need to be demolished along with the pool house. The old pool area will be filled in and will be absorbed into the park. The future of an Aquatic Center now rests in the hands of you, the voters.
