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Aquatic center to be subject of city study
Published Saturday, September 15, 2007
The aquatic center issue — how it ranks as a priority with the public and other related questions — will be include in an upcoming Park and Recreation Department survey. The city’s aquatic center task force is waiting to see the responses before planning its next move.
“It depends where it is in priorities with people,” Dave Schneeberger, task force chair, said. “That will determine our next course of action.”
Parks and Recreation officials are working with Leisuervis Consulting of Kansas to develop the survey, Parks and Recreation Manager Rick Terway. The park board is reviewing a draft of the questions; from there it will go to Leisuervis, which will send it to 1,500-2,000 random Fergus Falls residents within the next 60 days, Terway said.
From the time the survey is distributed, he estimates it will take about three months to get results back.
The survey comes with a $10,000 price tag for the city. The task force will not share in the costs, as it is a committee of the city. The task force formed a year ago, when talk about an aquatic center began circulating after Pebble Lake beach reopened after being closed the year before due to high water.
As the aquatic center issue is pondered, the city still seeks a solution to Pebble Lake’s high water. Options for permanently solving the problem are down to two.
The most viable seems to be directly pumping water through pipework into the Otter Tail River, as was previously done as a temporary fix. The other option calls for temporary pumping and possible irrigation of the campgrounds and ball parks in DeLagoon Park. Irrigation, however, could only remove two to three inches of water at best, Edwards has said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by Steve (anonymous) on September 30, 2007 at 5:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello,
I am married to a gal who grew up in Fergus Falls and still
has her parents, two brothers & their familes, two sisters
& their familes who all reside in Fergus Falls....
We just had a Aquatic Center built here two years ago with
the help of a couple businessmen, who bought the land and
thus donated the land and money to help build it...
We have purchased "family passes" the past two years as we
have a 8 year old son and a 10 year old daughter, thus a
family pass for four has been $100, $ 80 for a family of 3,
and unsure what passes run for a couple or singles...but
our kids and hundreds others are generally there even when
the pool is close to not opening with low outside temper-
atures,etc...I too have spent many afternoons there with my
kids on some of my days off and some I merely took a book or
magazines to read on a lounge chair under the large umbrellas in the shade...
Our police department does on occasion walk through to just
simply check to make sure everyone is under control, besides
the many lifeguards on hand and management from the Park &
Rec. dept...
Many things for the kids to do from infants to adults with
the water slides, to the smaller pool area which goes from
0-12" which has many sunbathers ( college girls & guys ) who
lay along the edges of the pool...Many parents with kids in
swim diapers and I have talked to vistors from all over who
have had great praise for our aquatic center and thus having
a daily rate of $2 per person...Very good price for a relax-
ing afternoon with/ or without kids...Many grandparents thus
including my parents ( mid 70's ) take our kids on occasion
as well...They don't swim, but my dad enjoys just walking
through the water and the large showers to cool off,etc...It
gets him outside and he enjoys the time with his grandkids
here in Brookings...besides he talks about the people he
visits with and sees...
They are redoing out High School pool as well, which is
indoors and I am unsure about what is really going on with
it as I graduated 29 years ago...but swimming lessons have
been available there as well as the city aquatic center...
Steve Swanson ( Kathy "Salwei" Swanson,Hannah,Tyler)
3345 Aspen Avenue
Brookings,SD
57006
Posted by drmm198918 (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our family of four will be moving to the area after the 1st of the year. Possibly around Battle Lake. An aquatic center that close would mean a lot to us, and probably more trips to Fergus for myself, as both my children are on the swimteam in Iowa. These centers are growing in this area and seem to always have the waters bubblin!
The McMullen's from Iowa
Posted by mytwocents (anonymous) on December 29, 2007 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FERGUS FALLS its about time!!!! The kids in this town have nothing to do! Would this prevent alot of kids from getting in trouble? YES!!! This would be so awesome for both kids and adults! I am all for it and have been saying this for the last 5 years, why doesn't fergus build something like this?! I have 2 kids and they LOVE swimming!!!!!! Please let something like this go through!!!
Posted by mytwocents (anonymous) on January 5, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fergus Falls has taken every fun thing that a kid had to do OUT. Examples: Pebble Lake took away all the rafts and slides not to mention the life gauards. The Roller Rink shut down. Half the time the ice rinks outdoors don't open cuz the city is to cheap to pay someone to sit in the warming houses. When I was little we had all those things. I just don't understand what this town is trying to prove sometimes and then wonder why the heck all these children are just out walking the streets downtown and such. Well this aquatic center could be one of the smartest moves this town has ever made. As long as it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get into it!! Theres alot of families that would love to join in on some things but everything these days are so high priced who can afford it?!
Posted by RightOn (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not against this project, Fergus Falls does need something, But DON'T build a new water park way out at Delagoon park or Pebble Lake park. There must be a more central location easier to access for the youth on both sides of town... how about behind the old mill building, or Grotto Park, or next to the Eisenhower school.
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