Harrington Foundation gives $100k to city pool

Clarendon’s water recreation project has received a $100,000 grant from the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation, according to information presented to the City Council last Thursday, May 10.

City Administrator David Dockery made the announcement in his report to the board and said that funds available for the swimming pool now total approximately $1.9 million.

Mayor Sandy Skelton told the Enterprise that the city’s focus will now turn toward construction of the facility.

“Speaking on behalf of the Steering Committee, we are very pleased with the recent $100,000 gift from the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation,” Skelton said. “With that significant donation, we can now plan for the construction of the aquatic center/pool and those discussions will begin at our next Steering Committee meeting on June 5.”

The mayor also said he wanted to reiterate some basic facts about the funds available for the water recreation project.

“I would like to remind Donley County residents that the approximately $1,900,000 raised thus far was for the exclusive purpose of constructing Clarendon’s first ever public swimming pool,” Skelton said. “The anonymous benefactor who challenged the City with a $500,000 matching grant in 2015 indicated that those funds could only be used for a swimming pool (not the paving of streets or for any other purpose). Several local and area foundations as well as numerous property owners and individuals in Donley County believed in the project as evidenced by their generous donations.”

Skelton said the location selected for the pool, on the southeast corner of Fourth and Kearney, was also chosen for specific reasons, specifically its ownership by the city and its existing connection to Prospect Park via a lighted walkway.

“That location was attractive to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife and, as a result, a donation in the amount of $500,000 was received a couple of months ago,” Skelton said. “Once the pool is constructed, the City will continue to make improvements to that area and keep it well maintained in the future. The size of the property will accommodate the pool and associated structures plus parking.

“Although local and area foundations as well as the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife made large donations, I want to especially thank Donley County residents for their financial gifts. Without local citizens and property owners stepping up to the plate, this project would not have been successful.”

In other city business last week, aldermen approved raising fees related to animal control procedures and updated policies and coverages related to financial controls within the city. The council also considered bids on the USDA funded water system improvements but took no action pending further review by city staff, city engineers, and USDA.

Bids did come in within the project’s $3.9 million budget, but officials are reviewing everything to make sure the bids meet the specs of the project.