What is it?
In the winter primary, held on Feb. 20, 2024 voters in Isabella county will see an old, but improved proposal. This proposal asks members of the Mount Pleasant School District to agree to levy one million dollars towards a community aquatic center. This center will not only serve as a home for the Mount Pleasant High School girls swim team and the Central Michigan University club teams, but the facility will also allow for group and private swim lessons, aquatic therapy and rehab sessions, and countless employment and volunteer opportunities.
Economic Impact
The overall estimated cost of the facility, when it is fully completed is $21 million. The main source of funding is from the levy that is being presented to the community during the 2024 winter primary, but there is also some additional support from private and grant funding. This project is projected to add $1.36 million annually to our community. (When the center is fully operational)
When and Where
If the funding is approved in february, the next steps would be development and construction. These steps are projected to take two to three years, with a target goal of completion and opening of spring 2027.
The aquatics center will be located on a vacant lot across from the Mount Pleasant High School soccer fields on Preston Street. The Mount Pleasant Public Schools District has agreed to allow construction on this property, which is conveniently located down the street from the Mount Pleasant High School and is a short drive from CMU.
Pros and Cons
If you are considering whether or not you should say ya or nay to this proposal, first you must know the pros and cons.
Pros- “as a swim coach, I would have a place that is more of a home…we could have home meets, which would then bring other schools to our community.” Said Mount Pleasant High School girls swim coach, Eric Beckman. Having a fully operational aquatics center will highly benefit the swim team, creating a home pool with access to much more equipment and higher level training. The center will also provide the opportunity to host home meets, which can bring additional profit to the surrounding businesses. “We could have the state police do scuba training and more access to swim lessons with the school district.” access to a deep water pool can provide specialized deep water training for local first responders and indoor swim lessons for young students in the district. “Individuals with hip replacements, knee replacements, or injuries could walk in the water and rehab.” Local rehabilitation facilities will have an additional place to perform their exercises.
Cons- Despite the countless benefits that a community aquatic center will provide, there are always setbacks to consider. “Anytime people get taxed, people wonder what they could have done with that money.” Said Beckman. Voters with less financial leeway than others may have a problem with the $75 a year for every $150,000 worth of home value that the proposal calls for.
“That land could be used for something else.” There will always be a wonder of what could have been. Many buildings could be built in that empty field and some people might find that something more beneficial to them and the community should be built there.
