No decision made on site for water park

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, December 8, 2006

More important than how much an aquatic center would cost is finding a suitable location, said task force members.

While directed to focus the search on the DeLagoon recreational compound, a Bonestroo Sports representative found himself answering why it was the only site studied.

When the DeLagoon Task Force met Thursday, Jim Maland, an associate principal with Bonestroo Sports, St. Paul, discussed the possibilities for an aquatic center at DeLagoon. Bonestroo was hired to prepare a proposal for an aquatic center. Two sites at DeLagoon — one by the campground and the other on a vacant spot of land near the entrance — were suggested by Maland.

“We’re not going to look at Hoot Lake or any other locations?” Terry Lejcher, an advisory member of the task force, asked.

“I drove around looking at a lot of sites,” Maland said. “But I thought the directive was for DeLagoon.”

“Then what was the purpose of your looking at other sites,” Task Force Chair Dave Schneeberger asked.

“To get a taste of the community,” Maland said.

“Everything from day one was talk about studying an aquatic center at DeLagoon,” Community Development Director Gordon Hydukovich said. “It’s not that he won’t go to another site.”

Maland also presented the results of a survey conducted of the task force members. Ranked as high priorities for an aquatic center were on-site parking, bicycle parking, a changing area, shade shelter, a water side for small children, landscaping, access sidewalks and trails, shade trees, and a guard/staff/first aid room.

“Nothing has been decided,” Schneeburger said. “We’re still just in the gathering information stage right now.”