Finance Committee asks to fund wading pools with free cash

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Finance Committee asks to fund wading pools with free cash
The wading pool at Ward Park could be rebuilt under a recommendation from the Finance Committee. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

MARLBOROUGH – After a lengthy discussion, the City Council’s Finance Committee has recommended that the wading pools at Hildreth and Ward Park be rebuilt.

A request for a $1 million bond was given a negative recommendation by the committee. Instead, the committee has requested that Mayor J. Christian Dumais send to the council a transfer request for $2.1 million in free cash “or any other measure” to pay for the projects.

According to Dumais, the city currently has $19 million in free cash.

Council sends pool to FinCom

Before the Finance Committee meeting on Sept. 16, the City Council voted to send back to the committee the $1 million bond request that would fund converting the wading pool at Ward Park into a splash pad.

Ward 3 City Councilor Robert Perciado said that he received “an overwhelming amount of inquiries” regarding the pool.

“I have not heard from anyone interested in making the change to a splash pad. On the contrary, an overwhelming amount of support has come forth in favor of keeping the pool,” he said. “I am glad the mayor has been open to feedback regarding the issue, and it is my hope that we can work together to bring something the community will be excited about.”

FinCom discussion

During its meeting on Monday, Sept. 16, the committee heard from Dumais and Theodore Scott, the interim commissioner of public works.

They discussed the estimates provided to the city by BH+A Architects. The costs for a complete replacement of the Ward Park wading pool would be about $1.14 million (including $200,000 to replace a building); to swap out the pool for a splash pad would be about $682,000.

“Ward Park is in dire need,” said Dumais.

For Hildreth, the estimated cost to replace the wading pool would be $858,941. According to Scott, the design is ready; should the transfer request be approved, work could begin this fall, and the pool ready in time for next summer.

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Dumais pointed out that the pools at Ward Park and Hildreth have not been updated in about 25 years.

“The decision was made to change Ward Park wading pool into a splash pad due to both initial construction costs and subsequent annual operational costs,” he told the council. “In addition, a change to a splash pad from a wading pool at Ward Park would allow the facility to be open for the summer of 2025, whereas a complete replacement of the wading pool would not allow the facility to reopen until summer of 2026. This is due to both the timeline of beginning a design and the additional construction work and logistics required at Ward Park due to the topography/ grading of the site.”

The additional work would include the replacement of pipes underneath the pool.

Dumais added that operational costs for a new wading pool would be $21,343 per summer and $9,564 for a splash pad. The reason – wading pools are staffed with lifeguards, while spray parks are staffed with attendants.

Despite the higher pricetag, committee members said they would favor the rebuild of the wading pool at Ward Park.

“I urge not to cheap out the community,” said Preciado, whose ward includes Ward Park.

He said a lot of people use the wading pool because it’s close by and it’s free.

Some councilors, including Council President Mike Ossing, said they would like to keep the wading pool open for the summer of 2025, and have the work begin next September.

Councilor Mark Oram asked about other sources for funding, such as the meals and hotel taxes, and whether the city could use students from Assabet Valley to provide labor.

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