By APRIL MIDDLETON

Salina Journal

The last time Melissa Kochanowski took her two young children to Salina's city pool, it was crowded, the water level in the pool was low and her children weren't having any fun.

"We went to the McPherson pool instead," Kochanowski, Salina, said. "They have the pool, spray yard, and everything is more kid-friendly."

Overall, she "loves" the concept design of the proposed aquatic park for Salina that was unveiled Monday at a city commission study session.

She, thinks, though, that a 50-meter lap pool "would be a lot better" than the 25-yard one that is included in the proposal.

"A 50-meter pool would bring in a lot more people for summer swim meets and competitions," Kochanowski said.

Salinans will vote in November to approve or reject a 0.40 percent sales tax. A portion of that (0.15 percent) would be used to pay for the estimated $12.5 million aquatic park; the remaining 0.25 percent is a renewal of the quarter-cent sales tax that is set to expire in 2010.

The park would be built south of the Bicentennial Center. Plans may be viewed at www.salinapool.com.

The concept design includes multiple slides, a lazy river, zero-depth entry wave pool, water obstacle course, spray and play fountains, and a 25-yard lap pool.

Kochanowski's love for the design but wish for a larger lap pool mimicked the majority view of people who participated in an unscientific poll on the Salina Journal's Web site.

As of about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 143 people had responded to the poll question: What do you think of the plans? Nearly 36 percent of those said they "love them." About 22 percent gave the plans a "thumbs up," and about 24 percent said they "hate it."

In a second poll, people were asked, "Are you in favor of a 25-yard or 50-meter lap pool?" Of the 600 people who had responded by about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 54 percent said they preferred the 50-meter pool.

"When we brought the plans to the commission, their consensus was to leave it at a 25-yard pool, but they did open the door for private fundraising of somewhere in the neighborhood of $570,000 to extend it to a 50-meter pool," City Manager Jason Gage said. "If the desire was to have an Olympic size pool, that was about $1.5 million additional, and I think (the commission) would entertain that, as well."

Gage said the time line for such fundraising is pretty tight.

"The consultant indicated they would start the final design as soon as the vote is approved," Gage said. "Given that, we would need to know if there is commitment to do that by the time of the vote."

In a voice mail message Thursday afternoon, Debbie Smith, coach of the Salina Aquatics Club said, "Right now, we are looking at the design and exploring our options."

Many of the people who commented on the Journal's Web site expressed concern about the cost of admission. Many said they were afraid that if the cost was too high, some people wouldn't be able to afford to use the facility.

The city has not yet offered a definitive answer, but officials indicated they are looking to make the admission price comparable to other water parks in the area, which generally charge between $3 and $6 a day. Summer passes also might be offered, but a price hasn't been set for those, either.

Karilea Jungel, Salina, thinks the entire plan is bad.

"Everything looks nice on paper, but I expect it would be better in California or in Florida," Jungel said of the concept plan.

She said $12.5 million is too much money to spend on a facility that only can be used for three to four months of the year. She would prefer an indoor facility, such as the one at Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City or Kansas Splashdown Indoor Water Park in Hutchinson.

"I want not only the kids but the parents, too, to have fun with something that can be used all the time," she said.

Gage said Aquatic Design Consultants is working to complete the design and put it in forms easy for the public to view, such as a three-dimensional model and video tours.

nReporter April Middleton can be reached at 822-140 or by e-mail at amiddleton@salina.com.

Join the Discussion:

Salina.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here. Read our full online terms of service policy.

Post a comment
Your best chance of getting your comment posted:

• No profanity
• Be civil
• Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Comment:

Poster:

Enter text seen above:

Read our full use policy.