July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Pool move a great idea
Editorial
This idea is a winner.
For some time, it's seemed that the only flaw in plans for Hudson Family Park was the placement of a headquarters for Portland's street department smack-dab in the middle of things.
Meanwhile, across the Salamonie River, Portland Municipal Pool was facing an unavoidable need for renovation that was estimated to cost as much as $500,000. That's a huge amount of money to be investing in a pool that's already more than 50 years old.
By switching the street department to the current pool site, a utilitarian building is placed out of public view. By building a new pool in Hudson Family Park, the city will set the stage for at least the next 50 years.
The price tag for a new pool and completing the park won't be small. The pool and bathhouse alone have been estimated at more than $1.7 million.
But Mayor Bruce Hosier and the park's donors - Barry and Elizabeth Hudson and their family - envision a public-private partnership to get the job done.
If a private capital fund-raising effort could come up with $1 million, the city's share of the cost of a new pool would be roughly the same as renovations of the old pool.
Mayor Hosier, meanwhile, has been exploring the possibility of bonding to raise the funds to complete other work at the park, which include an amphitheatre and more paved bike trails.
The mayor's vision is both bold and prudent.
Bold because it would complete the park within the 10-year timeframe established by the donors and get the job done.
Prudent because the mayor has made it clear he wants to pay off any bond issue by dedicating a part of the city's cumulative capital funds toward debt service. That way, a bond issue would not require a tax increase, just discipline in spending.
All good parks have magnets. At Haynes Park, it's the shady picnic area. At Weiler-Wilson Park, it's the baseball and softball diamonds.
At Hudson Family Park, the sledding hill and nature trail have already proven to be magnets.
A new swimming pool, completed lake, and amphitheatre will quickly make it a favorite with the public.
This idea is a winner. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
For some time, it's seemed that the only flaw in plans for Hudson Family Park was the placement of a headquarters for Portland's street department smack-dab in the middle of things.
Meanwhile, across the Salamonie River, Portland Municipal Pool was facing an unavoidable need for renovation that was estimated to cost as much as $500,000. That's a huge amount of money to be investing in a pool that's already more than 50 years old.
By switching the street department to the current pool site, a utilitarian building is placed out of public view. By building a new pool in Hudson Family Park, the city will set the stage for at least the next 50 years.
The price tag for a new pool and completing the park won't be small. The pool and bathhouse alone have been estimated at more than $1.7 million.
But Mayor Bruce Hosier and the park's donors - Barry and Elizabeth Hudson and their family - envision a public-private partnership to get the job done.
If a private capital fund-raising effort could come up with $1 million, the city's share of the cost of a new pool would be roughly the same as renovations of the old pool.
Mayor Hosier, meanwhile, has been exploring the possibility of bonding to raise the funds to complete other work at the park, which include an amphitheatre and more paved bike trails.
The mayor's vision is both bold and prudent.
Bold because it would complete the park within the 10-year timeframe established by the donors and get the job done.
Prudent because the mayor has made it clear he wants to pay off any bond issue by dedicating a part of the city's cumulative capital funds toward debt service. That way, a bond issue would not require a tax increase, just discipline in spending.
All good parks have magnets. At Haynes Park, it's the shady picnic area. At Weiler-Wilson Park, it's the baseball and softball diamonds.
At Hudson Family Park, the sledding hill and nature trail have already proven to be magnets.
A new swimming pool, completed lake, and amphitheatre will quickly make it a favorite with the public.
This idea is a winner. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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