There will be more on Tuesday's ballot than just the presidential election. Voters registered in Madison will also be asked to decide on a referendum allowing the city to supersede the Preservation of Shoreline Parks ordinance to create a municipal swimming pool.
The Madison City Council's Ad Hoc Swimming Pool Committee has been discussing the construction of a public aquatics facility for several months. The idea began when the local Goodman brothers donated $2 million toward the creation of a new municipal pool. If constructed, it would be the first pool owned and managed by the city, according to a statement by Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9.
A Swimming Pool Committee meeting held Thursday discussed the specific plans for the facility. Depending on the final design, the pool would have a maximum capacity of 800 to 1,000 people and up to two diving boards and two water slides.
\We're not just looking at a good pool,"" said committee member and Superintendent of Parks Jim Morgan. ""We're looking at a great pool.""
Five Madison parks are being considered for the location of the aquatics facility. Of these, Warner Park and Franklin Field are located near waterways and therefore protected from construction by the Preservation of Shoreline Parks Ordinance. This has led to the inclusion of a referendum on the Tuesday ballot that would allow the city to temporarily circumvent this rule. The referendum will then determine whether or not Warner and Franklin will be options for the final pool location.
The Pool Committee remained confident that the outcome of the referendum vote would be positive.
""It won't fail,"" committee member Nino Amato said.
As for UW-Madison, Morgan said students are not the ideal market for the municipal pool project, and it is aimed more toward Madison residents who do not have access to university facilities like the SERF or the Natatorium. However, the aquatics facility would offer an additional job source for students who remain in Madison during the summer.
""Most people think of a city pool and say, 'What a good place to swim,'"" Morgan said. ""But for [UW-Madison] students, I'd say, 'It's a great place to work.' There will be amazing employment opportunities in life guarding or the concessions operations ... It would pay well. Lifeguards are always predominantly university students.""
