PARK FALLS - Cold temperatures outside means people are taking exercise inside.

But Park Falls is struggling to re-open their pool for the winter season.

Funding for the Chequamegon High School pool is gone because an operations referendum failed in April.

But the community is rallying to save it.

“I’m an adapted PE teacher, and I love to take adapted students in here. It’s free movement for a lot of people, especially if they have limitations,” said Jane Gustafson, a member of the “Save the Chequamegon Pool” committee.

“It’s a strong community and student resource,” said Dave Anderson, Chequamegon superintendent. “One of the things we’ll be trying to promote is a lifelong fitness practices with our students.”

That’s tough to do when you have to shut down the pool.

“A lot of people were so concerned and wanted to do something to help, but nobody knew where to begin,” Gustafson said.

She got together with about ten others to raise enough money to keep the pool open.

It costs about $1800 a month to keep it running. The committee has raised $6,000 so far, so they’ll need more to keep it open through April, when it normally closes for the summer.

“We’re in it for the long haul, and we’re going to continue to fundraise and do what we need to do to keep it afloat, this year and the coming years,” Gustafson said.

“My hope is that they succeed. My hope is that they raise the funds and that we’re able to keep the pool open for the benefit of our kids and our community,” Anderson said.

With the money the committee has raised so far, the pool will stay open until January, but they’re hoping more people will donate and attend their monthly fundraisers.

More information is available on their Facebook page.

Related Weblinks:
Save The Chequamegon Swimming Pool Facebook Page

Story By: Lex Gray