(MITCHELL) – The “Love of our Pool” is a newly formed committee of committed Mitchell citizens working alongside the Mitchell Park Board to raise money to support the Mitchell Community Pool.
The LOOP committee consists of Sally Miller, J.J. Goldsberry, Karin DuBois, Joe Timbrook, Mark Bryant, Adrienne Lipp, Heather Krout, Joni Bodkins, and Seth Johnson, who will seek input during a community event set for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13 at the park area near the pool.
The event is free to attend.
Sally Miller says there will be a “Wall of Dreams” where people can write their wish list for the pool – improvements, programming, classes or anything else they would like to see at the pool.
The American Legion will be selling food, and LOOP will be giving away one family pool pass and an individual pass. There will be other prizes, games for the kids and music.
The event will take place rain or shine. If it rains, the event will be moved into the Mitchell Community Building.
There will also be a dedication of the new playground equipment the city received through a Living Well grant to help fight obesity. The ribbon cutting will take place at Noon. Should it rain on Saturday, the dedication of the playground equipment will be held the following week.
With the size of communities like Mitchell, it is difficult for the pool to be sustained on the city’s budget, especially in the town’s economic state. However, seeing the need for it in the community, not just for physical fitness, but for the youth as very few facilities cater to our youth throughout the summer the way the pool does.
“Love of our Pool” is concentrating their efforts on these particular areas:
- Addressing the season’s immediate needs: Just like any other year, this season presents a list of short- term needs for the pool to function successfully before the summer arrives. And more significant needs will, hopefully, be addressed in the coming years.
- Nurturing Public Support: The group feels that one way to successfully financing this cause is through public support. Local individuals, businesses, and financial institutions have always played a role in our community’s efforts such as this one.
- Strategic Planning and assessment: The facility needs to undergo a professional evaluation to help guide growth efforts and successfully secure funding. The committee will use capital funds responsibly to gain the trust and sustain a positive image with the community.
- The committee will host a kick-off event to share their goals with the community on Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be exciting information shared along with prizes and activities for youth. Attendees will have a chance to share ideas for the pool’s Wall of Dreams.
Immediate needs include:
- Concession stand: pretzel rotisserie
- Guard Room: shower curtains and curved rod for the guard room
- Bathrooms: toilet paper holders, replacement shower heads,
- Other needs:
- 3 Lifeguard umbrellas for guard chairs, 1 for a chair at the top of slide the cost $65 each.
- Umbrellas for two picnic tables. The only shaded areas.
- Plastic lounge chairs because of a shorage of seating. The cost $200 each
- Materials to create a new floor and sealant for the baby pool. The cost an estimated $1,000.
- High-grade paint to improve and seal the leaking pool floor./li>
Long range plans for 2020:
- Single post umbrella from Shade Systems installed near the baby pool.
- A large double post shade for pool deck and picnic table area.
- Replace damaged pool wall
- Scrape paint and seal concrete bottom
- Replace bathroom sinks and install wall hung diaper changing area, soap dispensers, and hand dryers.
- Extend baby pool deck by four feet
To become a sponsor of the pool:
Platinum: $500 plus.
Gold: $300-499
Silver: $150-299
Aqua Sponsor: $25-149.
Joe Timbrook of the Lawrence County Growth Council has been partnering with the group to help come up with a Strategic Plan to identify what the needs are and the costs to bring the pool up to date.
“We want people to be able to know where their money is going,” Miller added. “We are excited in moving along in this endeavor.”
Mitchell Mayor J.D. England states he is excited to see the work of the park board and new pool manager who has been working with vendors to provide better lower cost and healthier options at the pool.
“I’m grateful for the fine group of people serving on LOOP to help with costs associated with the pool and their efforts to improve the pool,” Mayor England added. “The pool has always operated in the red. But it provides a needed activity for our youth in our city, and provides exercise and other health benefits to our community to which we are trying to promote.”
