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Bayfield residents desire new indoor swimming pool

Citizen Parks and Recreation Committee unveils survey findings
A survey about desired amenities among Bayfield residents, conducted by Bayfield’s Citizens Park and Recreation Committee, revealed an indoor swimming pool was a top priority. (Adobe Stock)

BAYFIELD – Bayfield residents who took part in a survey about desired town amenities universally agreed upon at least one such perk: a new indoor swimming pool.

Mary Benson, who coordinates action items for Bayfield’s Citizens Park and Recreation Committee, told the town board during Tuesday’s meeting that an indoor pool would be feasible for multiple reasons.

One, it can be incorporated as part of a recreation center. Two, it can be used as part of expanding school programs. Three, swimming is a multi-general activity.

“There has been interest since they started doing the surveys from the library district that they did and other people who have been surveying the community that they would like to have a rec center,” Benson told The Durango Herald, adding that the indoor pool was added to the original conceptual plan. “This is something that I learned about just through the board meetings and things like that.”

Benson said the town’s senior residents want an indoor pool so they can do water aerobic exercises.

She said the thought of working with Bayfield High School when and if it forms a swim team came to mind, adding that the committee could obtain donations and grant money for the facility if such a team materializes. She also said some foundations help with donations if a recipient helps people learn how to swim and learn how to avoid drowning.

And whether it’s a state-sanctioned swim team or just a club swim team, she noted that allowing high school-aged swimmers to train at the new pool could be a goal, depending on funding and the size of the pool.

She said the committee still needs to gather more data for factors like what the facility would actually look like and the estimated cost to build the new facility.

In March 2023, the town sought community feedback about the survey. On June 28, 2024, the Citizens Park and Recreation Committee developed the survey to compile that feedback.

In all, 369 residents responded about the revisions. Adding an indoor pool was the top-ranked priority based on a top-10 list of desired amenities.

In a separate survey with 271 respondents that addressed exploring the feasibility of a membership payment model that would partially help incorporate that indoor pool as part of a recreation center, 85% approved of it. Of those who disapproved, that number was 10%. The remaining 5% of respondents either did not weigh in or did not provide a “yes” or “no” answer.

As for funding, 194 of 319 respondents said the town should generate funding via a combination of a minimal sales tax increase, matching grant funds and private donations.

Board Trustee Kat Katsos told Benson she was impressed with the level of depth in the presentation, adding there is growing interest to address such recreational needs.

Katsos asked the town to post the survey documentation on its website, given there’s interest. Board Trustee Brenna Morlan, also receptive to the survey, noted the importance of the feasibility study to disclose funding sources and what the ensuing cost would be. Mayor Tom Au told Benson the survey report was “well-detailed.”

One La Plata County resident who spoke just after the presentation voiced support for a recreation center with a pool because it can be used year-round.

mhollinshead@durangoherald.com



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