By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
OSBORNE — A group in Osborne is raising money to build a new city pool.
The current city pool was built in the 1950s and is leaking.
A committee of local residents has been working for the last year with the city and has a design for a new $2.1 million pool.
The design calls for a format much like the old pool, but with a couple of slides and basketball net.
Lacey Holloway, who is on the committee, said the parents wanted an open space where children could have unstructured play.
“We want them to use their creativity,” she said.
Currently the project is a grassroots effort.
Osborne voters will be deciding on two tax issues in November, one for the hospital and another for a new EMS barn. Pool supporters did not think asking for tax dollars for a pool would be prudent at this time.
Eventually organizers hope donations and grant money could be paired with a bond issue to build the new pool.
The committee would like to break ground on the project within the next three years.
Holloway said the pool committee is just getting started with fundraising efforts, and they have a long way to go.
Their first event was a kids’ triathlon that raised $600.
The group has two more fundraisers scheduled for July 22 — a kickball tournament and softball tournament.
The kickball tournament will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with check-in starting at 7:30 a.m.
Cost is $60. Games will be 30 minutes with double elimination.
Teams must have at least nine players, consisting of three members from each age group — kindergarten-4th, 5th-12th and adult. At least one team member has to be an adult.
Contact Marci Lantz at 785-346-6401 to sign up.
The co-ed softball tournament will be 2 p.m. to midnight July 22 with check-in at 1:30 p.m.
Cost is $100 per team or $150 after July 14. Games will be five innings or 45 minutes with double elimination. Team members must be 16 years old or older. Teams must have at least nine members with even numbers of men and women or at least four women.
First place wins $100 in Oz Cash.
Contact Holloway at 785-346-6603 to sign up.
The group will have more fundraising events during its end of summer festival on Aug. 19. The event will include sand volleyball, arm wrestling, music and a free swim, among other activities.
For those who wish to make a monetary donation to the project, you may mail a check to the Osborne Community Foundation in care of Osborne City Hall at 128 N. First St., Osborne, KS 67473.
Note Osborne City Pool in the memo line.