Fundraising milestone hit for aquatic center

RANDOLPH – Fundraising for a city aquatic center is going swimmingly.

More than $105,000 has been raised in 2 1/2 years from nearly 110 donors ranging from residents, alumni, local businesses and civic groups.

“I think a lot of people have written it off as something that’s never going to happen,” said Ben Benton, Randolph’s city administrator. “It’s fun to see it progress and evolve. We finally hit our milestone and that’s an amazing amount of money to raise.”

Benton has already started on the next step: reaching out to statewide foundations.

“Im sending out communication to some bigger foundations in Nebraska that love to give money to projects that show community support and community investment,” Benton said. “Those two things we’ve acquired by being dedicated and committed to this project and not giving up.”

He hopes to raise an additional $300,000 through foundation support. Once the project hits $400,000 raised, state and federal grants can be sought to reach the total fundraising goal of $1.2 million. That amount includes engineering, design and “all the things that make projects so expensive,” Benton said.

The Norfolk engineering firm for the project, JEO Consulting, will write the grant applications for the proposed aquatic center which includes a climbing wall, splash pad, figure-eight slide and zero-entry, among other features.

The city built the current pool 54 years ago for a cost of $39,000.

“What we’re building now will last another 54 years, easily,” Benton said.

Benton and others on the aquatic center fundraising committee have been dedicated to the project since its inception in 2020 – for good reason.

“Amenities that support youth are vital to a community’s ability to remain a community,” Benton said. “The city spends a considerable amount of dollars every year to provide that recreation and it’s a cost well worth having.”

Applications are currently being taken for lifeguard and other pool staff for the 2024 season.

Already, there’s been an abundance of interest and Benton said the pool manager positions may be filled by the end of the month.

“It’s exciting to see those positions fill so quickly,” he said. “You talk to any city administrator or any municipal employee, it’s oftentimes the pool is the hardest amenity to staff.”

The city is still looking for someone to offer swimming lesson instruction for the 2024 season.