Winamac Park Board to pursue grant for pool construction

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Published: Monday, 22 May 2017 23:29

WINAMAC - The Winamac Parks & Recreation Board held a public hearing Monday evening to announce plans to pursue a $200,000 matching grant from the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

If approved, the grant funds will be used toward construction of a new public swimming pool in Winamac - at the site of the former town pool.

The deadline to apply for the grant is June 1, which puts the park board in a pinch to have enough time to complete the application. The board only recently received official recognition from the state to make it eligible to apply for grants. Board president Courtney Poor said every effort will be made to compete the grant application on time, and he announced the Pulaski County CDC director Nathan Origer has offered his assistance. Origer has previous experience in federal grant applications.

A dozen people attended the hearing. All who spoke supported the pool project.

The projected cost of a new pool is $500,000 to $600,000. About half that amount has been raised by a fundraising committee, headed by Winamac Town Council member Judy Heater, including a commitment of funds from the town council. The town council has also set aside a $40,000 annual cost to operate the pool. All efforts are proceeding with the goal of not raising taxes to complete the project.

If it can make the application deadline, the park board will learn in August if it has been approved for the grant. Board member Brad Zellers said it will be at least 18 months from the awarding of the grant to the construction of the pool. The grant will require that the project be bid out.

Many of those who spoke at the meeting expressed not so much their desire for a pool for family recreation, but more particularly for the opportunity to teach local children to swim.

"You cannot put a value on a child's life," observed Winnie Heims. "We need a pool to offer swimming lessons."

Zellers agreed, noting he has seen a lot of kids swimming in the river at the footbridge in town. "If we have a pool for them and they don't take advantage of it, shame on them," he said. "But if we don't offer a pool, then shame on us."

Any business, group or individual who wishes to make a donation to the pool project may make it to the Winamac Pool Project Committee and drop it off at the Winamac Municipal Office or the Community Foundation of Pulaski County.