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Survey: Trails trump pool
Aquatic center still popular idea for city
Published Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Library and walking/bicycling trails topped an aquatic center on the list of important recreational amenities in Fergus Falls, a recent park and recreation survey revealed.
The comprehensive survey, including questions about a potential aquatic center, was conducted via mail last fall. Ron Vine, president of Leisure Vision/ETC Institute, Olathe, Kans., presented highlights of the results to the city council Tuesday. Leisure, a national firm that specifically does park and recreation surveys, worked with the city to formulate the questions.
Response, Vine said, was surprisingly good. The goal was to have 300 surveys returned of the 2,000 sent out; 701 were returned. That, he said, is the fourth highest survey return rate in Leisure’s history.
Findings included:
• Library and walking/bicycling trails were deemed most important recreational features by respondents.
• Maintaining current parks and outdoor sports fields; improving library facilities; walking/bicycle trails; and development of aquatic facilities were cited as most important activities to fund with additional tax dollars.
• There is interest in some sort of aquatic facility. Building a combination outdoor/indoor aquatic center, followed by building an outdoor aquatic center, is the most preferred option.
“If you’re going to build an aquatic center, you would have to have recreational features or it would not be money well spent,” Vine said.
• Support, Vine said, is “fairly equal” between paying operating costs of a new aquatic center with taxes or fees.
• Water slides and similar components would be most used. There was also support for lap lanes for exercise.
• Of the responding households, two-thirds would use a new aquatic center if it included features most important to them.
• 57 percent respondents would be very willing or somewhat willing to pay some increase in taxes to fund the types of parks, trails, aquatics, recreations and sports facilities that are most important to their households.
The aquatic task force center will study the report in its entirety to plan its future path, said Dave Schneeberger, aquatic task force chair. The survey, he said, “showed me there is a lot of interest in doing something with an aquatic facility. It’s just a matter of determining what type will be best to pursue.”
• Usage of the city’s parks is high with a good satisfaction rating. Lake Alice is the park most used, followed by NP Park. Delagoon is the most used recreational facility.
• One in four respondents reported low participation in community recreation programs. The programs, however, were given a satisfactory rating by those who do use them.
“The main reason (for lack of participation) is they don’t know what’s being offered,” Vine said. More marketing, he said, would be money well spent.
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 sassica (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, build a big pool with slides and such for Fergus Falls kids and families to enjoy! Make sure the facility is cost efficient so all can enjoy!!!!!!!
Posted by notsocommonsense (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pebble Lake use to have slides and was big enough for families. Why is that not an option anymore?
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fergus Falls needs a pool that is located in town. A place where jr. high age kids can ride their bikes to in the summer. We try to make it to Breckenridges pool a couple times in the summers. The place is always packed, it is one of the best pools that I have ever been to. Driving in town you see lots of children riding their bikes with a towel draped over their shoulders. Swimming is a fun way for these kids to be active. It gets them away from the video games and the TV. It more than likely keeps them away from trouble. It is not safe for kids to ride their bikes to Pebble Lake, even if there was a life guard once they arrive.
Posted by jeepman (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been to many small towns that have community pools, and think Fergus is behind the times on this. A pool (along with other things) is something that should be moved to the top of the list. A community pool centrally located in town would give everyone a chance to access it easily. An amenity like this is going to help younger people, like myself, continue to consider Fergus as a quality place to live and find work. It seems as though Fergus doesn't like to accommodate students or younger people. A pool would benefit the entire community.
Posted by yepUbetchya (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The survey, “showed me there is a lot of interest in doing something with an aquatic facility. It’s just a matter of determining what type will be best to pursue.” great quote by a task force member after 2 years of evaluating this demand. Yet another do nothing task force.
Lets see if I can help you answer that question: try a facility with water. I believe Jethro called them a "cement pond".
Posted by Binkalette (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What ever happened to swimming in lakes? ...It's not like we have any of those or anything....
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think anything that can be done to encourage families to get outside is a good idea! I love the idea of a pool like Breck/Wahp because I can't go to Pebble without getting covered in chigger bites... makes me feel like it is equal is swimming in Lake Alice. Just not very clean.
Posted by Paul (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You may get bitten by something at Pebble Lake but not chiggers, there are no chiggers this far north, thay can't survive the winter.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you are right Paul, but I think I saw a chigger at Larrys bar once.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
never mind...it was jigger.
Posted by mytwocents (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please Please Please let this go through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This would be the best thing to ever happen to fergus falls!
Posted by ax25 (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't remember being attacked too much on the bike trail to Pebble Lake, but things might be different now days. Kinda sucks being a kid now. A pool in town might be a good thing in light of this giant crime problem.
Posted by jsn22 (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think a pool would be a great idea. I love lakes as much as anyone in Minnesota but its hard for kids who live in town to make it out to one if they have parents that are working. Also, I grew up living near a lake. I swam in it nearly everyday. Trust me, there are chiggers.
Posted by notsocommonsense (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posting Life Guards at Pebble Lake would not be too difficult for the city to figure out. What better way to get kids active than riding a bike on a safe bike path to an already existing "aqautics center". Besides, I'd rather pick a couple bugs off me than soak in a chlorine bath for hours. Do you really think public pools are clean? Think again;)
Posted by Jerry (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Per the extension office although chiggers are not common in Minnesota, they are in fact present. To get your money's worth out of a pool it must be indoors so it can be used all year. Many cities have them at the schools and are open to the public.
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well whatever... let's all go to Pebble this summer and watch my legs swell with large red bumps that itch for a week! What fun! I prefer a bromine/chlorine pool anyway of the week. As a mom, I am much more accustomed to kiddie pee than duck and goose pee!
Posted by notsocommonsense (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fergusfallsmom, are you sure that is not a reaction to Krispy Kreme's?
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was not very nice... no common sense at all. I am actually allergic to many foods that others indulge in... including Krispy Kremes... so if you are trying to call me fat.. nice try.
Posted by luvmyboys (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chiggers or "lake itch" or whatever they are scientifically called ARE prevalent in this area. I have kids - and I turn them into polka dotted humans every summer by dotting calamine lotion all over their little red bumps, because they itch so bad. I feel for you fergusfallsmom! And yes, a pool would be a great addition!
Posted by notsocommonsense (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, a great addition... to the two that already exist.
Posted by TheGUY (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fergus Falls is in no position to pay for an aquatic center.But,I bet the property on pebble lake is getting pretty valuable. Why not sell it and use that money towards an aquatic center? Or build a beach in Delagoon?Still too far away you say?
"Far away" is realtive.How many people live out of town in the new developments?Or in the country?Pebble Beach is actually pretty close for them.Build a pool in town and what is closer to some is farther for others.Even in town it would still be a long bike ride for many kids.
Don't get me wrong,I would say great if this city could afford it.But as a taxpayer I do not want to have to bail the them out on this thing.I think of the fireworks.The only reason we have them is because people bail the city out.The ice rinks. I love to skate and play hockey but the city can only afford to have one open. They refused to fix the flooded road at pebble Beach and would not post lifeguards.Yet they want to support an aquatic center? Where are the priorities?Who will pay to maintain the pool?Do they charge us tax to build it and them charge us a fee to use it? I hope not.With finacial savy like this I hope the City of Fergus Falls does not have any city credit cards.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Getting the money to build a new aquatic center is no problem, you just jack up our taxes again.
Just wait by spring there will be a committee of “Prominent Citizens” who will have a few meetings and then come to the city council with their findings. Pebble Lake is falling down from bad maintenance. A lake is only supposed to last 50 years. Whoever built the lake used bad construction materials. The lake is unsafe. It’s for the children.
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on January 24, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not for sure, but I do believe that Breckenridge reconstructed their swimming pool by fundraising and the rest was paid for with a loan. The last I heard the loan was close to being paid off due to more donations and from the reasonable fees charged to use the pool and from concessions.
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