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Posted on Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.

Ypsilanti City Council must decide: Give greater support to Rutherford Pool project or new Water Street pedestrian bridge?

By Tom Perkins

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a Thursday morning vote by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority to cover the city''s portion of a matching grant.

Two groups hoping to complete recreation projects are seeking $300,000 each in grant funds from the same state pot. Now the Ypsilanti City Council must choose which will get top priority.

The Friends of the Rutherford Pool and the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission are applying for Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants to help fund the reconstruction of Rutherford Pool and a pedestrian bridge over the Huron River, respectively.

The council was originally scheduled to vote at its Tuesday meeting backing the city in submitting an application on behalf of Washtenaw Parks and Recreation. But the Friends met with several council members over the weekend and said they also need the city's support with their application.

Rutherford Pool 1b.jpg

Rutherford Pool in Ypsilanti needs an estimated $850,000 in repairs.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

The city can submit two grant applications, but must choose which is given first priority. The council delayed voting on the bridge until a special meeting March 29.

Since the two groups are not eligible to receive grant funds, the city must submit the applications and receive the grant money because. The Natural Resources Trust Fund is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the funds can be used for developing recreation facilities.

Washtenaw Parks and Recreation is seeking $300,000 and is offering $275,000 of its own matching funds. The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority voted Thursday morning to cover the entire 25,000 matching grant. The application originally called for the city to pay $15,000 of that.

The pedestrian bridge would connect the Border to Border Trail from Riverside Park to the Water Street property underneath the Michigan Avenue bridge.

The link would complete a larger segment of the trail in Ypsilanti, which City Planner Teresa Gillotti noted in a memo to the council is a high priority in the Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Commission master plan process.

The most recent segment completed was a gravel trail along the Water Street property. Council authorized Washtenaw Parks and Recreation to conduct a study in 2009 to determine if the bridge was feasible, and the group’s recommendation to construct the footbridge is the result of that study.

Riverside_Park.jpg

A proposed pedestrian bridge would connect the Border to Border Trail from Riverside Park in Ypsilanti to the Water Street property beneath the Michigan Avenue bridge.

AnnArbor.com file

The Natural Resources Trust Fund requires a minimum 20 percent local match, and Gillotti said in the memo that the 50 percent local match that is part of the proposal would boost the project’s chances of being selected.

The Friends are seeking to raise $850,000 for capital costs in replacing the aging South Congress Street community pool. But Lisa Wozniak, who is part of the group, said they are hoping to raise $470,000 by the end of 2011 and focus on the remaining funds in 2012.

The Friends are asking for a $300,000 Natural Resources Trust Fund grant on which they would match $150,000, or 50 percent, through their own fundraising efforts. Wozniak said the group is soliciting local foundations, along with individual gifts.

They hope to receive an additional $20,000 grant through the Department of Natural Resources Passport program. That program is funded with money that drivers spend on a $10 annual state park pass when renewing their plates. The program was originally expected to generate a much larger source of funds than it did. The Friends had pinned their funding hopes on that source, and are now adjusting their fundraising strategy.

The city has no obligation to the Friends except to support the application. But the city is offering its support only if the Friends complete the grant application without city assistance by the April 1 deadline. They also must generate the matching funds by a December 1 deadline, incorporate as a nonprofit and develop a five-year operating plan.

Because the pool is in a city park and city-owned, Mayor Paul Schreiber said his biggest concern is the Friends disbanding and the pool becoming the city’s responsibility. He said the Friends need to demonstrate that they can operate the pool for its lifetime.

Schreiber pointed out that the bridge is backed by a countywide group with the Border to Border Trail, and has a funding mechanism built into the Washtenaw Parks and Recreation.

Planners from Washtenaw Parks and Recreation said the bridge would be owned by the city because it's an amenity that's part of park infrastructure. They said the county would be responsible for major repairs or any damage to the bridge, but the city would be responsible for paying for routine maintenance and upkeep.

Planner Coy Vaughn said some of those details would still have to be worked out.

Vaughn and Planner Richard Kent, who have been closely working with the city in developing the application, said they weren't aware of the Rutherford Pool's competing application until Wednesday.

"I don't know anything about their project, but we think our project has a lot of reasons to be supported by the state and community," Kent said. "It has a lot of benefits for a small project."

Schreiber said he has long been a big supporter of the pool, but said the Friends face a "monumental task" and have fewer resources.

“If all else were equal and money were no object, I would love to see the pool stay open, but the project is a huge investment in time and money and it’s a daunting task,” he said.

Wozniak is confident the Friends, which has three nonprofit directors involved, can meet the city’s requirements.

“It’s an increasingly strong group of people who have come together over the last year,” she said. “It has been an amazing volunteer group.”

The city ceased operating the pool in 2003 when the parks and recreation department was dissolved. Since then, the Friends entered into a “mutual management arrangement” with the city and cut $10,000 to $20,000 from the cost of maintaining and managing the pool. The Friends estimate running the pool now costs between $50,000 to $60,000 annually.

Problems with the nearly 40-year-old pool, which was expected to last 20 to 25 years, include a torn liner, leaking main drain underneath the pool, "underground heaving" causing an uneven pool floor, wiring and plumbing issues in the building, possible crumbling of one corner in the pool and an uneven pool deck.

“Its important for a city that’s been going under a lot of change because of the economy,” Wozniak said. “It’s so much more than a pool — it’s a community center.”

Council Member Mike Bodary said he was still undecided about which he will choose and said there are positives to both projects.

Council Member Brian Robb said he wants to see if the Friends will commit to incorporating as a nonprofit in addition to completing the grant application before the special meeting next week before he makes a decision.

"The pool is very special to the community, but I'm worried we're too late in the process," he said. "I'm sure (the Friends) can finish the application and raise the matching funds, but I don’t want the pool to turn into another Freighthouse, where the organization gets a bunch of money, but not enough to complete it, and we're stuck with a project that’s in a perpetual state of construction."

Robb also said he was upset that the Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Commission didn’t have a chance to weigh in on the pool project. He said issues relating to capital improvement projects in parks are supposed to go through that commission.

“It seems like some council members want to circumvent that whole process,” he said.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.

Comments

Thomas

Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.

If I had a vote, I'd vote for the trail. They are obviously well prepared. Let the pool spend this year getting their ducks in a row and they can apply next year. Don't scoop in at the last minute and try and displace a project that people have working very hard (and very visually) on for a while now. Go B2B!

Bob Krzewinski

Mon, Mar 21, 2011 : 10:34 a.m.

The public is invited to a special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on Thursday, March 24th, 7pm, at the Ypsilanti SPARK office, 215 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti (just east of the Library and next to B-24's Cafe). The only agenda item will be a review, discussion, and recommendation to Council, on proposed grant requests by the City to the State of Michigan Land Trust Grant program for funds related to a Border To Border Trail bridge and the Rutherford Pool. The Mayor and Council members have also been invited. Bob Krzewinski City of Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation Commission

Lisa Bashert

Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.

Every person on a bike or walking or rolling in a wheelchair is one more not on our roads and contributing to the ever growing issues of congestion, pollution, and oil dependency. Every link in the Border to Border trail is vital to our ability to get around efficiently and in a green/beautiful manner. Getting from here to there is crucial in our modern life -- but we can do it (and many already are) thru public greenways and public transportation in a way that serves all on multiple levels. You may not walk on the trail, but you benefit from it in ways that are unseen when others do. In the bigger picture, we need BOTH these projects. It's a red herring and I object to a politics that pits these projects against one another that says we can have either but not both. That's not "realistic," that's instead thinking on a scarcity model. How can we re-think our priorities to make sure both these projects come to pass for the public good?

Corby

Sat, Mar 19, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.

Andy. I was actually one of the people you interviewed under an overcast sky at the bridge to Water Works. While we talked, no one else passed by. I love that area and have to be among the city's most frequent visitors. I am always surprised when I encounter another person; I go there for the isolation. Still, I am a strong supporter of the project (even if it disrupts my urge for isolation). Personally, I visit that space far more often than Rutherford. I think I went to Rutherford twice last year. But that's just me, and this shouldn't be about me. I'm not trying to be confrontational, but I find your Hamilton scenario to be a bit of a straw man. I don't think anyone suggested that nobody uses the trail (if I missed that in the comments, please let me know). But, let's say we had to prioritize replacing sidewalks on city streets. If 5 people used Hamilton in any given hour, and 50 used Huron, shouldn't we fix Huron first? This doesn't mean Hamilton isn't used; it just means we direct funds to what's most used, first. If this was all about me, I'd benefit from the bridge most. It's hazardous crossing Michigan there (I go up or down a block and wait for the light). But, if this is about current recreational benefit to the greatest number of citizens, I step aside for Rutherford. My assumption (which may well be wrong), is that the Water Street trail won't be used at a level that comes close to Rutherford until some Water Street development is well underway. It should be done, but it's not as pressing as the pool. That said, I know you have a lot invested in this project and want to keep momentum. Thanks for your work. And, again, I would still vote for whatever project seemed most likely to garner funding.

AndyYpsilanti

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.

I would strongly disagree with the statement that the trail is not used. During use studies conducted last summer, we saw fairly surprising numbers. I personally never saw less than 5 other users in any given hour period, outside of the ones when it was pouring rain. Users varied greatly in age and split between using the trail for recreation or transportation. It is much harder to put a solid number of daily users on the trail, because the users are not corralled inside a fence. I could walk down my street, Hamilton in Ypsilanti, and not see a single other person on my block right now. Does that mean nobody uses the sidewalk?

Andrew Claydon

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.

I've been walking the Water Street side for years and it is beautiful back there. The sprint across Michigan Ave. is a real turn off for folks getting from one park to another. I think the area will get a lot more use once it's connected. As for the pool, I think it's very important to the community. It gives the kids a place to go and something to do. I love the parade of kids going by all summer long from the south side to the pool. Personally I'd use the trail more but I think the pool is vital to the community. Both things are a part of what makes the City of Ypsilanti a great place to live. We'll work it out, we always do.

Joe

Sun, Mar 20, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.

I wish I could vote for a comment more than once. Well put.

John Hritz

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.

If you base your decision on capitalization, the bridge project has all of its funding in place. The pool needs to go through several rounds of fund raising to achieve its $850,000 goal. The utility arguments can be made by others. I don't use the trail or the pool.

AndyYpsilanti

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.

In a follow up to @foobar, it should also be noted that the trail built on Water Street last year was constructed in such a matter that it can be used as a trail bed for the paved version with very little preparation, and that Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation has already set aside a sizable chunk of money to build a paved trail along the river on the Water Street Property.

foobar417

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 9:55 a.m.

The bridge is a key link in the B2B trail. They've already lined up all the financing and it fits the grant requirements perfectly. Also, even if one didn't want to go along the Water Street trail until it was paved, the bridge would very useful and enable the B2B trail to be routed along its planned riverside path north of Michigan. Once this bridge is in place, it'll be a whole lot easier to finish the B2B trail through Ypsi.

Corby

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.

The pool supports current use. The bridge looks to potential use. Rutherford is one of Ypsilanti's most heavily used public resources. The bridge would connect a well used park (Riverside) through a mess of weeds and rubble filled with potential (Water Street) to an underused park (Waterworks). Currently, it would be a bridge to nowhere (Water Street isn't a park, it's vacant land) built on our collective hope that, in the spirit of Water Street, it will someday connect something to something. I've walked and biked the Water Street path dozens of times. I have always been alone. I've swam at Rutherford. It's full of dozens of living, kicking bodies, every time. The bridge is future recreational hope; Rutherford is present recreational reality. Naturally, I'd love to see both. But, if we've learned anything from Water Street, it should be don't throw away money on grand ideas without guarantees. I can guarantee that as long as Rutherford is open, it will be well used. No one can guarantee that this bridge will lead to anything. We can only hope, and I do hope with you. But I'd rather spend money on reality than hope. All that said, I'd still probably vote for whatever project was more likely to receive funding.

LC

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.

My wife and I walk in from Riverside park down to Waterworks park at least three times a week. We never see anyone using the trail. If we want to spend money on how much resources get used, the pool wins every time.

Tom Perkins

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 4:04 a.m.

Andrew Jason Clock, A quick point of clarification - The Friends do not have to raise $150,000 in matching funds within two weeks. That deadline is December 1.

Cheryl

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.

The walking bridge under Michigan Ave is ready and supported. Money was already spent for the engineering study. If delayed, another expensive survey might have to be done. The installation of the path has already opened up and increased positive use of the land south of Michigan Ave. The Tridge has been so successful connecting Frog Island to Riverside that we can be confident going forward to connect Riverside to Water St. riverwalk as part of the B to B trail. I would urge our City Council to give this project priority. I am also glad to hear that the Friends of the Rutherford Pool are working to bring the pool back. I have and will support their future efforts.

Andrew Jason Clock

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.

Part 2 Rescuing the pool is a good and worth project in need of funds, but this grant is not the one they need. First, the deadline is in two weeks, and in that time they will need design plans (already completed for the bridge) to incorporate as a 501c3, a grant written, and to acquire $150k in matching funds. The larger problem is that this grant does not seem to be designed for this type of project, but for land preservation, trails, and green space. A quick look at the grant requirements: <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10366_37984_37985-124961--,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10366_37984_37985-124961--,00.html</a> A quick look shows the how each project stacks up against the requirements. To me, the pool meets very few of them. Rutherford pool is a vital recreation facility for the city, and funds need to be sought to repair it. But competing with the city for the same grant is not the way to do it, especially with so little time to prepare. The bridge also hold far greater potential to attract development and investment to downtown (remember, the completed trail would pass through Depot Town and Downtown) all at absolutely no cost to the city, and with the full support of Washtenaw County Parks and Rec and the Ypsi DDA. To me, the choice is clear.

Andrew Jason Clock

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 1:35 a.m.

Part 1 The proposed pedestrian bridge is the final link in a nearly one mile trail along the Huron River, linking the city north to south from Forest Avenue to Spring Street, all handicap accessible. Far from a bridge to nowhere, it will serve as a vital recreation and non-motorized transportation route. The City of Ypsilanti has been working with volunteer groups, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, private companies, volunteer groups, the State of Michigan and the Ypsi DDA on the project for the last year to prepare for this grant. It also should be noted that the city is seeking this bridge grant on it's own, with the support of several groups, not in place of any group. The city's application perfectly fits the grant's requirements and falls into the trust's #1 preferred project category, trails and green ways. Having the 51% matching funds available makes the bridge project a very likely award candidate. In short, the city gets a new recreation area, and a nearly mile long river walk, to attract visitors, new residents and development all for the low low price of absolutely free.

EyeHeartA2

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 1:25 a.m.

I don't have a horse in this race - actually, I would problably use the bridge more than the pool (never for the pool) - but here is my take: A pool draws a community together. A bridge is for spandex clad roller bladers and bikers. The bikers are not going to use it anyway - sort of like the biker I saw going through the roundabouts at Geddes, rather than using the other bridge to nowhere next to the roundabouts. So, use the money for the community, not the scofflaws.

Cheryl

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.

The biking community supports the bridge as it provides a critical link to the Border - Border trail south without mixing it up in Michigan Ave @ Huron St. traffic.

Bob Krzewinski

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.

The bridge will be part of the Border To Border Trail, and be assured that bicyclists, walkers, children, families and the handicapped will be on it, especially when the Trail from the bridge south to Ypsi Township is completed. I assisted in a Border To Border Trail use survey a couple years ago, and on a Sunday afternoon, I counted 50 users over a three hour period on the Border To Border Trail just west of Cornell in Ypsi.

Tom Perkins

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.

Cash, There below paragraphs are from a story written in August 2010. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/rutherford-pool/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/rutherford-pool/</a> Last year, the Rutherford Pool sold 120 family passes and 20 single passes. This year, 135 family passes have been sold, and Weiss estimated that figure will grow by 20 with the arrival of half-price passes partway through the summer. In 2009, there were 11,701 pool visits - and that count was already at 8,272 midway through July this year. Weiss said the pool averages 200 visits per day and saw as many as 500 on July 5.

Cash

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 12:17 a.m.

Wow Tom, thanks. I'd say that pool gets plenty of use and is a value to the taxpayers. That's what counts. At this point we have to look for the best value we can get. Again, maybe with a little rate increase they could hire the staffing that they would need for it.

cinnabar7071

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.

I vote for the pool, my family uses it several times a year. The bridge would be a better investment if they had anything built on the Water Street property but as it is now it would be a bridge to nowhere.

Cash

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 12:15 a.m.

Thanks Cinnabar...well maybe they could at least hire the staff they need by raising the rate a little. But if it gets a lot of use, it is more valuable to the taxpayers than the footbridge, I think.

cinnabar7071

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.

Cash I see a far amout of people using the pool on hot days, not like Rolling Hills tho. I'm sure they could raise/double the price and not effect it's use, can't remember what the price to get in is, but I do remember it being very cheap.

Cash

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.

I'm curious, do a lot of people use the pool? I really don't know but if a lot of people are using it, then maybe the city really can come up with the funding for maintenance and staffing and keep it going.

sailor67

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.

Hmmmm, a bridge to nowhere. Where have we seen that before?? City of Ypsi, isn't it time you cut your losses and admit you made a (rather large) mistake??

Bob Krzewinski

Fri, Mar 18, 2011 : 2:47 a.m.

Actually, the proposed bridge will be a part of the 35+ mile long Border To Border Trail. Once the bridge is completed, the next logical step will be to improve and build the Trail from the bridge south to Ford Lake, where a long section of existing Border To Border Trail exists on the south side of Ford Lake.

Cash

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.

I'd say the pool right off, because it is for the children.....but I'd be very concerned about the expensive upkeep and the staffing needs...lifeguards etc. I don't know if the city can afford that right now. Sad if it can't be opened though. The bridge idea is lovely and it might help make the vacant property look more appealing maybe (?) I guess I wouldn't want to have to choose. Good thing I'm not a politician!

sbbuilder

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 9:12 p.m.

The pool gets my vote. Ypsi folks appreciate and use the pool all summer.

Pete Murdock

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.

The DDA's $25,000 was for the Border-to-Border Trail Pedestrian Bridge Grant.

Cash

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.

Pete, If you happen to pop in here again, could you tell us about how many people use the pool in the summer?

Pete Murdock

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.

The Downtown Development Authority voted this morning to cover the City portion and upped their contribution to $25,000.