Submitted
ELLIS — A favorite summertime spot in Ellis, now observing 78 years of existence, is the Ellis Municipal Pool.
This summer, especially in the past two weeks, the swimmers are showing more excitement than usual. A double slide is being installed for use starting this Saturday, July 1st. The double slide was a campaign project sponsored by the Community Foundation of Ellis starting last fall. One of the reasons for this project was to provide an increase of healthy activity for the participants at the pool and to enhance the existing pool with great feature that would make the Ellis pool a fun attraction for local and area families to enjoy in Ellis during the summer.
Pool co-manager, Alyssa Dawson stated, “We are excited to see the pool patrons have a new feature to enjoy! The guards are looking forward to seeing the finished slide.”
In celebration and appreciation of the success of this project, The Community Foundation of Ellis is providing a free swim day from 1:00-6:00 on Saturday, July 1, with a ribbon cutting at 2pm followed by watching the two lucky swimmers being the first to go down the 10 ft and 8 ft slides. This week, swimmers have been entering in the drawing when arriving daily at the pool hoping their name will be drawn Saturday at the ribbon cutting to be the first to go down the new slide.
In addition, pool co-manager, Ashley Rohleder commented, “The kids are all very excited! They are having fun watching it be built as well. They can’t wait to try it out.”
The Foundation would to thank the community for their support and generous donations. The slide was funded in part by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the City of Ellis, the Community Thrift Shop, Lee and Jackie Frickey, Kevin Fox Construction, Hays Concrete and by the generous citizens of Ellis.
The 60 x 140 feet pool was built as a reservoir by the WPA (Works Progress Administration). In 1938, the Ellis residents went to the polls to vote on a proposed $10,000 bond to pay for the city’s share of the cost involved in turning the reservoir into a municipal swimming pool. The vote passed and work started on a native stone bathhouse and filtration system which would turn the reservoir into a pool.
The pool opened the summer of 1939. This pool was unquestionably one of the largest in northwest Kansas at that time. The pool was maintained without much change until about sixty years later in 1997, the pool was updated to meet ADA guidelines. Updates included handicapped showers and restrooms, entrance ramp, handrails, and a lift for easy access into the pool. The bathhouse was modified in 2005 and 2008 along with fence repairs. A pool liner was installed in 2010.
Today, the Ellis Municipal Pool continues to be a “Hot Spot” for summer fun and the tradition will no doubt carry on for many years to come.
Community Foundation President Pauleen Edmonds shared, “Come out and celebrate with us at the Ellis pool on Saturday and then every day to follow this summer!”