Swim lessons resumed, for the first time in two years, today at the Marysville Municipal Pool, with 93 youths participating. The lessons are always popular with parents and children, but were not offered last year because of social distancing and capacity restrictions at the pool due to COVID-19. The city will hold a public meeting this week to consider options for the pool’s future. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillion)
Marysville residents are going to get their chance to tell city officials what they want to see for the city pool.
Marysville will host a public meeting, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sean Doebert Amphitheater in American Legion Park, 205 Park Ave.
“We want to hear from the community what they think about our pool, where we are what we need, what we are missing, what they want to see,” said Amanda Morris, Marysville recreation and events manager. “This first meeting is really just a look-see for people to come and listen and learn.”
She said the open-house style meeting will be “more relaxed.”
Earlier this year the city began an aquatics facilities study to consider the future of and options for the pool. Morris said the consulting group, MSA, examined the pool facilities before the season and has looked at historic figures for pool participation and finances.
In addition to the public meeting, MSA will create a survey for public input.
Morris said the city has residents in all walks and stages of life, from young families with babies, to those with older children and older adults. She said each group will likely have different wants and expectations for the city pool and splash pads.
Morris said once the consulting group hears from the community, it will create some options, based on public comment and possible funding.
Those options, as well as funding options, will be presented at a public hearing in July.
“This meeting is really just a first step, but at the July meeting is when we will really start to see some things come together and they will have some more black and white, concrete options to look at,” Morris said.
She said funding for any pool improvements could come from a variety of options including self-generating revenue, general fund revenue, capital improvement dollars, grants, loans or a bond.
She said the council and community will decide what route to choose. Morris added that a possible bond issue could be used for not just aquatics, but also other parks and recreation needs.
“All of that will go into it and those are things the council and the community will need to look at and consider,” Morris said.
MSA will host a third meeting, likely in September, to present findings and recommendations.
“Then it will be up to the community to decide what to do with those recommendations,” Morris said.
City officials said the pool was constructed in Legion Park as part of a WPA project in the 1930s. She said it was “completely redone” in 1982. She said the pool has generated at least 64% of its own funding in recent years, and many years it has been above 70%. She said most community pools try to generate about 50% of their own funding.
City officials have said that as the pool moves past the 40-year mark, the operations costs will begin to increase.