Quest to save Ypsilanti's Rutherford Pool gets $50,000 boost from county
Ypsilanti’s 40-year-old Rutherford Municipal Pool needs to be totally rebuilt to keep operating, community volunteers who keep watch over the pool say.
This week, the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission helped the volunteers in their quest to save the pool.
The commission pledged $50,000 toward a $600,000 fund-raising campaign that would rebuild and maintain the community pool at 975 Congress St. for future generations.
That brings the total amount raised to save the pool to about $235,000, said John Weiss, a volunteer with Friends of Rutherford Pool, a group of Ypsilanti volunteers that manages the city-owned pool.
The fund-raising campaign includes an application for a $300,000 state Department of Natural Resources grant.
The recent donation pushed the matching dollars over the $223,000 qualifying mark Ypsilanti needed by Sept. 30 to officially apply.
The grants are competitive; more matching funds raised to match the grant strengthens the application, said Bob Tetens, the director of Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation.
Weiss said the state is expected to give an early indication on the Rutherford Pool grant application in the coming months.
The pool is an important community gathering spot, especially for young people, Weiss said.
“Most of the users are children and youth,'' he said. "For a lot of young people in Ypsilanti, it’s one of the few places they can recreate during the summer.”
Tetens said the $50,000 donation comes out of parks and recreation’s development tax. The 10-year millage last renewed by county voters in 2008 generates about $3 million per year, Tetens said.
“It’s incredible that the county stepped up,” Weiss said. “We’re hugely grateful to them.”
Ypsilanti ended most parks and recreation activities in 2003 due to budget constraints, Weiss said. Since then, different groups of volunteers have helped maintain Rutherford Pool and other recreation centers, like the Parkridge Community Center, which are gathering places for young people.
The pool is in disrepair; when built, it was expected to last 25 years, Weiss said.
“It’s really falling apart,” Weiss said. “The pipes are corroded, sinking in one corner. They put a new liner on it in the 1990s that’s ripping apart now.”
A $600,000 injection of cash would allow for a rebuild and create a small endowment and maintenance fund, Weiss said.
The Friends are collecting donations through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Weiss said, via that group’s Ypsilanti Rutherford Pool fund.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Steve McKeen
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
I'm disgusted that these so-called friends of the pool sabotaged the project for a bridge running under michigan avenue. The sense of entitilement these people have makes me want to leave. I'm embarrassed for our community.
Eric
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.
Steve, you again. With yet another negative comment about the pool? I was hoping to hear from you after looking into the your claim about never hiring your son, turns out he never applied. (look back at my reply in your last post)
cinnabar7071
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Well Steve dont let the door hit where the good Lord split you. I take my kid to Rutherford serveral times a year, and hes made more friend there then any other place we go. We've been to other pools but keep coming back to Rutherford. A great community asset bringing local kids together.
Kristyn Spangler
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 11:41 a.m.
The Rutherford Pool is an anchor for safe summer fun in Ypsilanti. It serves a diverse population and is more affordable than other public pools, thanks to the generosity of the community. The volunteers are dedicated and creative in their stewardship.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 11:04 a.m.
University Bank's Kid's B'Cause Fund (TM) will donate $5,000 to the $600,000 fund-raising campaign and challenges the other area banks and credit unions that serve Ypsilanti to match our contribution toward this excellent cause. If each of the other banks and credit unions chips in, the fundraising plan can be completed. Thanks to all the volunteers and donors, you are an inspiration of civic responsibility! Best wishes, Stephen Lange Ranzini President & CEO, University Bank
Krista Somers Boyer
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Wow! Thank you Stephen! Rutherford pool is such a great place to be! I hope the other banks in our area chip in as well!
xmo
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
Yea another pool maybe saved in Michigan! Just think of how many people will learn to swim and not drown because of this pool. Maybe we should build more pools?