In a highly publicized Wisconsin election, one lesser-known issue on the ballot in Platteville was an overwhelming success. Voters in Platteville, Wis., supported a $6.9 million fund to reconstruct the city’s public pool.
According to WKOW, the city’s current facility has been in disrepair for many years. Concrete structures have collapsed into the ground and cracks in the pool rendered it unusable for the 2024 season.
The Platteville Aquatic Recreation Sub-Committee (PARS) was tasked with “researching options, soliciting community input, assessing current resources and conditions, and presenting solutions.” The group also conducted a survey prior to the referendum vote to gauge what the community wanted in a future aquatic facility.
The results of the survey showed that 92% of respondents agreed that the city needs an outdoor aquatics center. A majority of respondents also expressed interest in features like waterslides and zero-depth entry areas.
According to the Platteville City website, the original pool first started leaking in 2014. In 2022, the city repaired cracked pipes and pool gutters. However, the sinking of concrete structures in 2024 broke additional pipes.
“The committee evaluated the option of a YMCA,” the city said in a statement. “But decided it wasn’t the best fit for Platteville’s specific needs.”
Not all of the existing pool will be destroyed. “Some or all of the exterior portions of the bathhouse and mechanical building,” will be retained for an estimated savings of $1-3 million. The city also announced that the existing waterslide may be refurbished if possible.
Now that the referendum has been approved, the city will move forward with grants and fundraisers to help pay for the new aquatic center in an effort to minimize tax-based funding for the project. For property owners in Platteville, the city estimates an annual tax cost of $60-175 depending on the property’s assessed value with costs decreasing over the course of twenty years.
