City to move forward with $6 million pool expansion
Manhattan considers water park to replace 70-year-old facility
8:05 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Manhattan — Connie Wolfe and her son Brandon play in the sand at City Park, yet they’d rather spend their summer at the pool.
The Manhattan City Park Pool was closed last month because if the pool’s concrete broke through these underground walls, the water would have hit a breaker and potentially killed dozens of area children.
Wolfe says the city commission should take immediate action.
“Rebuild a new one completely so it’s safer for little ones,” Wolfe says. “That way they’re not hurting themselves or anything else.”
The Manhattan City Commission tells us they are likely to vote in favor of building up to a $6 million pool right here at City Park. Despite not knowing where the money will come from, Manhattan residents say they are excited about this new possibility.
“Another $6 million is a lot of money, but you know, drawn from other places it’s only going to be a minor increase and in a sales tax or something like that,” says Michael Highberger, Manhattan resident and K-State student. “I mean, every little bit is going to be noticed by gas prices and stuff like that.”
Highberger says the pool, along with the Manhattan downtown redevelopment project, could help expand the area – much like his hometown of Overland Park.
He expects neighboring cities would bus residents to a high-end pool in Manhattan.
Though some favor the revenue the pool could bring, Wolfe says the City Commission should factor local residents in the most.
“As long as it’s a good and safe place for kids to play and not have to worry about where they’re at or anything. It sounds good to me,” Wolfe says.
The Manhattan City Park Pool was built in the 1930's.
The Commission plans to address the pool later this month.
Get more information on the problems with the pool at City Park in this report that aired July 8, 2008.
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