By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) will have a new play feature installed for use next summer.
City commissioners approved the recommendation of city staff last week to purchase the “Elevations” aquatic feature from RJR Enterprises for $185,000 from the Pool Reserve Funds. The multi-play piece will replace the deteriorated “Starburst” in the zero-depth entry area.
Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller was the sole vote against the proposal.
He said the Pool Reserve monies are primarily for repairs, and anticipates some big needs. He’s also like to see the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) do more promotion of the pool to increase attendance.
“It’s just there. We just expect people to go there,” Schwaller said. “The first thing that is lacking is a marketing plan.”
“We have the right staff in place now at CVB and I think a marketing plant would definitely help,” agreed Commissioner Shaun Musil. “I don’t think this new feature is going to increase attendance but I think it’s going to keep it relevant.”
Musil also advocated raising admission prices “a little bit.”
As HAP approaches its 20th year, Schwaller is more concerned about upkeep.
“The pool reserve funds we have on hand, $321,000, are meant to repair the pool. We’ve been diligent about it but at some point, we’re going to have a lot to replace,” Schwaller pointed out. “And when we use 57% of that money to buy a feature, it concerns me.”
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said she would vote in favor of the new play feature because the pool represents “quality of life” in Hays, and is not expected to be a “money-maker.”
Jacobs quoted from an email sent to commissioners by a local business owner who wrote “if families from Hays and other communities begin patronizing other water attractions…we will lose their dollars spend on eateries, shopping, etc….money and sales tax revenue that would have benefited Hays if we had not allowed our community to lose its sizzle.”
The city’s General Fund is funded primarily by a local sales tax.
The four commissioners agreed the pool does provide “quality of life” in Hays.
According to Jeff Boyle, Director of Parks, construction of the new water play feature will begin August 21, 2018 and should be completed by December 21, 2018.
Boyle noted there were already two 1,000 attendance days at HAP. There were only two 1,000 attendance days in all of 2017. “I hope we continue that trend,” he added.