A water park for Clarendon?

An anonymous benefactor wants Clarendon to have a water recreation facility and has put up $500,000 to challenge the community to make it happen.

Alderman Sandy Skelton announced the big news during the regular meeting of the Clarendon City Council last Thursday, August 13. Skelton said he had been approached by the benefactor in July and that he and City Administrator David Dockery immediately began looking into the opportunity.

“This is all very preliminary,” Skelton said. “We could be looking at anything from a really nice swimming pool to a water park like Wellington has or something in between.”

What the final project looks like will depend entirely on the success of fundraising and the support of community. City officials have learned that the price tag for water recreation projects can range from $1.5 million for a pool and a few amenities to $3.4 million for a water park like the new one in Wellington with slides, diving pools, splash pads, a swimming area, and covered picnic pavilions.

Clarendon Aldermen were enthusiastic about the prospect of a water park or pool as something many people have wanted for many years.

Reaction on social media validated the public’s interest in the project. The Enterprise broke the news on Facebook and Twitter when Skelton made his announcement Thursday night. The post had reached more than 1,000 people by the time the meeting adjourned 45 minutes later. By Tuesday morning, it had reached more than 3,700 people and had received almost 900 clicks.

Dockery suggested a steering committee be appointed very soon to guide the project and help with fundraising. The council agreed that Skelton would represent the city on the committee, and aldermen will bring committee nominations to their next meeting on August 27.

Dockery says the committee will be charged with looking at all aspects of the project, including the location of the facility, the size of the facility, and the cost to build and operate the facility.

An early site possibility for the committee to consider is due east of the Post Office at Fourth and Kearney, where the city already owns property which is connected to Prospect Park by a sidewalk and lighting.

Dockery also presented more information during Monday’s meeting of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and reiterated that benefactor is challenging the community.

“Nothing about this is set in stone,” Dockery said. “The benefactor is looking to see how much Clarendon will help itself.”

CEDC members also expressed enthusiastic support for the project.

“I think it would be great and a drawing card for Clarendon,” CEDC President Terri Floyd said of the water project. “It would bring business to our town.”

Floyd said she would like to see the community rally in support of the project.

“A lot of good things are happening in Clarendon,” Floyd said Tuesday. “We’re seeing a lot of progress, and we hope to see everyone get on board and make this a community effort.”

CEDC board member Alderman Doug Kidd was also strongly in favor of the project and said targeting young families should be the key.

“You have to think about the younger ones,” Kidd said at Monday’s meeting. “Splash pads and things like that are where it’s at.”

Last Wednesday, Skelton and Dockery, along with Interim Director of Tourism & Economic Development Jack King, and CEDC member Roger Estlack, toured the new Wellington Aquatics Venue and met with city officials there, gathering information on construction costs, operating procedures, and economic benefits of that project.

Dockery’s research also indicates that projects are more likely to be self-sustaining if they include more amenities than just a pool.

Dockery has been in contact with other cities that have water recreation facilities, and he told the CEDC that each city had its own challenges in building their facilities but all agreed they were huge benefits to their communities and had helped grow their economies.

Communities also report aquatics projects had enhanced property values and benefit other types of development.

Wellington, which has just had its aquatics center open since June 12 and closed for the season on Sunday, August 16, reported that it has had about 14,000 visitors in that short time with 70 percent of them coming from out of town.

Albany reports 80 percent of the users of its facility come from out of town.

Dockery says keeping the public informed will be a top priority as this project moves forward, and updates will likely be given at every regular city council meeting.

“We have to build trust and confidence that once we begin this initiative, we will complete it,” he said. “We need to show community interest and community backing.”

To make a donation or pledge your organization’s or business’ support for this project, contact David Dockery at City Hall at 806-874-3438.