Photo Credit: Aaron Dougherty Photography
It is well documented that community aquatic centers offer many benefits—recreation, health, and wellness to name a few—while helping to build a greater sense of community and a higher quality of life. However, the costs to build, operate, and maintain an aquatic center or other recreational amenities can be challenging. Often, communities look toward special funding sources, such as a dedicated sales tax or other tools, to provide these amenities. And, while the idea of a new, modern community aquatic center may be popular, persuading the community to actually vote for such a project may take some work.
For Beloit, Kan., a small rural community with a population of just under 4,000, a highly energized grassroots campaign proved to be the key to success at the ballot box.
Get The Ball Rolling
Challenged by safety and accessibility issues, outdated equipment, high maintenance costs, and low attendance, the Beloit community was confronted with the prospect of closing its aging municipal pool. A concerned group of citizens (aka the pool committee) mobilized to develop and promote a plan for a new aquatic center.