Friends of Rutherford Pool look to new state program as possible funding source to help rebuild pool

The Friends of the Rutherford Pool has been working for months on a plan to raise funds to rebuild the city’s public pool on South Congress Street. The group has determined the pool has only another year or two before it must be rebuilt or closed.

Friends member John Weiss says a funding source has been identified that could significantly help the group reach its goal.

Starting in October, Michigan residents will have the option to pay an extra $10 for a state park pass when renewing their vehicle's registration. Ten percent of the revenues from the "Park Passport" program will go to local municipalities’ recreation areas.

Weiss said state Rep. Rebekah Warren informed the Friends of the option when the group was searching for available funding at the state level. In many communities, local and municipal parks have been a casualty of budget problems, Warren said.

"In a lot of the urban areas, the municipal parkland is the only greenspace they have, so we wanted some part of that funding to be dedicated to municipal and local parks to mitigate that," she said.

Weiss said Friends members are putting together a grant request they hope to submit sometime in early fall. Warren expects the funds, which would be available via the Department of Natural Resources and Environment's trust fund, to be distributed in late 2011.

Curt Bentrum floats with his daughter, Katelyn, 6, in the Rutherford Pool.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

“We’re pinning a lot of our hopes in terms of a rebuild on possible state funding,” Weiss said.

The Friends received good news when a pool contractor recently estimated a rebuild at roughly $850,000, which is $150,000 less than originally projected. The group hopes to receive $400,000 through the Passport Program, $175,000 from individual donations, $150,000 through foundation grants, $90,000 through corporate sponsorship and fundraising and an additional $35,000 through in-kind contributions.

Weiss said the Friends has an advantage since three of its members are directors of non-profits.

"I think we know the lay of the land," Weiss said. "The goal is very achievable, with the big 'If' being if we can get close that $400,000 from the state."

Problems with the nearly 40-year-old pool, which was expected to last 20 to 25 years, include a torn liner, leaking main drain underneath the pool, "underground heaving" causing an uneven pool floor, wiring and plumbing issues in the building, possible crumbling of one corner in the pool and an uneven pool deck.

Repairs were estimated at anywhere from $300,000 to $700,000.

The initial $850,000 would only cover the rebuild, not subsequent operational costs. The Friends have been exploring several possibilities for partnerships, including one with the Ann Arbor YMCA, to run the pool once a rebuild is complete.

The city ran the pool until its parks and recreation department closed in 2003. Since then, the Friends and the city have been in a “mutual management arrangement.” Weiss said the Friends trimmed $10,000 to $20,000 from the cost of maintaining and managing the pool, which now runs $50,000 to $60,000 annually.

Weiss added a complete rebuild would reduce operational costs when the facility reopened. A new filter system would save thousands of gallons of water and reduce chemical and heating costs. In addition, a stainless steel gutter would require less maintenance.

With “the latest and greatest in pool equipment, we would be able to run it more efficiently from an operational standpoint,” Weiss said.

The new pool would also be slightly larger. Swim lessons offered through the Rutherford Pool are limited to 75 kids at each of the four summer sessions. The Friends group believes there is greater demand than space, which would also help offset some operational costs.

Last year, the Rutherford Pool sold 120 family passes and 20 single passes. This year, 135 family passes have been sold, and Weiss estimated that figure will grow by 20 with the arrival of half-price passes partway through the summer. 

In 2009, there were 11,701 pool visits - and that count was already at 8,272 midway through July this year. Weiss said the pool averages 200 visits per day and saw as many as 500 on July 5.

"The pool deck is a place where your elections are discussed, where school board elections are discussed, which school is my kid going to and which teacher is the best," Cathy Thorburn, a member of the Friends, said during a presentation to the Ypsilanti City Council on July 20.

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.