Hampton, IA- Hampton city leaders are unveiling their plans for a three million dollar pool project. They say it won't cost taxpayers any extra money.
For the past half century, the Hampton Pool has served as a soothing summer hot spot.
"Prior to that, young people in the community, kids in the community, swam in the creek in the north part of town, over where Harriman park is, wasn't very safe, wasn't very clean, wasn't very nice," said “Make a Splash!” campaign chair Berry Johnson.
The pool is still better than a creek, but it's starting to show its age, and it leaks around 20,000 gallons of water a day.
"It's just in poor shape, it takes a lot of man power and dollars and, it's basically outlived its life," said Hampton City Manager Ron Dunt.
Now Hampton city leaders and the make a splash campaign want to solve their pool problem with a new aquatic center. The design will be a major improvement, including a zero degree access.
"Anybody can, young children or handicapped adults everyone will have access to the pool that's in this day and age very important," Johnson said.
Dunt wants to use money from the local option sales tax to help pay off bonds for the new center. Voters will decide in August. Currently half the money goes into the water tower fund, the other half to the pool.
"There's many communities who have had projects such as this and done it with a tax increase so we've tried our best to minimize the tax impact and I think we've put together a good project," Dunt said.
Despite tough economic times, they're hoping taxpayers will see the long-term benefits an aquatic center can bring.
Berry Johnson-"I think it draws people to our community It allows the children of our community a real good safe place to have good clean entertainment."
The rest of the money for the aquatic center will come from private fundraising and state grants.
If you're interested in the project the make a splash campaign is holding a forum this Saturday at the Hampton pool.
