Community Meeting Will Be Held to Discuss Pool Project
The New Rockford Park Board together with the City of New Rockford and the New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation will hold a Community Brainstorm Session to discuss the options for the community pool on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the New Rockford-Sheyenne School lunchroom. Everyone is welcome, including children ages 10 and older, and refreshments will be served.
“The goal of this meeting is to better understand the needs and wants of the community and if a pool is something that is important, and if so, what kind of pool will best serve the community,” says Sarah Smith Warren of the New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation. In addition to the meeting, community members can also make their voices heard by completing a community survey about the pool. The survey is available online at www.cityofnewrockford.com or a paper copy may be picked up at City Hall.
According to reports by engineering firm EAPC, the pool is in need of major repairs, for reasons such as that it loses 10,000 gallons of water per day and does not meet accessibility standards. Judy Allmaras of the New Rockford Park Board says the current pool was built in 1978 and the problems occurring are consistent with normal wear and tear. “Other communities across the state and country are experiencing similar issues with their pools,” she added. “Many have had to close altogether.”
Several options are available to address these issues including repairing and updating the existing structure, building a new facility or closing the pool altogether. “Ultimately, we want the community to decide what is best for them and the future residents. Then we will work as hard as we can to make that a reality,” says Allmaras.