The Volunteers in Action's mission statement is to enhance the quality of living in Crook County, particularly the needs of children. Our first task/objective is the establishment of a Swim and Activity Center in Prineville. VIAs focus is to educate and promote the concept of a Swim Center in our community. A PAC has been formed for this purpose. In addition, our volunteer group will be actively involved in the funding of the project through grant writing, gifts, donations and corporate sponsorship for the various components of the Center.
In conjunction with the Crook County Parks and Rec Department, VIA intends to inform the general public through a series of town meetings, press releases and informational literature as to cost and conceptual rationale for the facility as it is being proposed. In addition, VIA board members on a regular basis will be in contact with a variety of interested parties, groups and organizations. Space limits a full discussion of the all the various issues, however I would like to touch on several key elements. First we have been blessed with an outstanding site for the complex on land already owned by the Crook County Parks and Rec Department. Davidson Field will provide a spacious landscape for the Swim and Activity Center, parking, open space and covered picnic and play area. With respect to the scope of the Center, there is conscious effort to provide multiple revenue sources to meet the needs of the community and to minimize the Center's operating budget. Research indicates that there are no indoor pools operating in the State of Oregon even close to a break even basis. Thus not only is an outdoor pool desirable when it is paired with an indoor pool for multiple functionality, the outdoor pool should actually generate net operating revenue. The use benefits of the outdoor pool, in the summer, of course are spectacular.
We have encountered numerous questions relating to the existing pool. Simply put, the existing pool is past its useful life. The pool was built in the 1950s and has many serious maintenance and structural issues to the point were there will be a challenge to keep the pool open for the 2006 swim season. VIA members toured the existing pool facility under the guidance of Maureen Crawford, Parks and Recreational Director. With her heroic efforts, the pool has been open the past several years, in spite of the loss of 3000 gallons of chlorinated water a day, equipment failure and what is now, essentially, a tired and worn out facility. Crook County in the near future will not have a pool.
At this time, we are awaiting the final completion of the feasibility study of the proposed Swim and Activity Center. We do know the cost of the project is approximately $9.9 million and we have rough estimates of the operating cost projections. Our fund-raising goal is to raise approximately $2.5 million dollars through our aforementioned efforts. We are pleased that the neighboring communities of Madras and Redmond are, or possibly will be, building swim centers in the future and the proposed Crook County Swim and Activity Center would seem to be a comparative value in terms of cost and facility. It is critical that the public be accurately informed as to the specific tax consequences of the Swim and Activity Center. We hope to have this data shortly and we will convey this information to the public as soon as possible. We believe the collective cost/benefit of the Swim and Activity Center for the entire community to be worthy of your serious consideration.
Our community, as all of you know, is experiencing growth and change. Obviously there are different aspects of Crook County that appeal to different people. However, the essence of Crook County, whatever that may be for each individual, must be preserved and protected. This includes the desirability of our community for existing and potential employers. To that end, the establishment of community assets to meet the needs of our citizens and children is an ongoing challenge. We believe the template for the proposed Swim and Activity Center is the Crook County Library. The library is an extraordinary first class facility, built under budget with quality materials, a vision toward the future and suitable for what we all judge to be an exceptional place to live and raise children. A Swim and Activity Center would be another exceptional community asset, one that serves the entire spectrum of the community, from seniors to children, on a year round basis. Interested parties include but are not limited to seniors, medical/therapy, swim team, water safety, swim instruction, lifeguard certification, general exercise, conditioning, supervised fun in a safe environment, young parent/infant orientation, and general recreation.
Sam Smith is Co-Chair of Volunteers in Action, a group in support of the proposed pool project. He can be reached via their Web site at: www.volunteersinaction.net |
