Numbers tell the story of McCook's new Aquatic Park

Ronda Graff/Courtesy photo

1937, 10, 8 to 9, zero

There are a lot of numbers that come to my mind when I think about McCook’s new aquatic center, which is scheduled to open Wednesday, July 17.

1937 - That was when McCook’s first public pool was built as a WPA project, meant to get people to work during the Depression. I am guessing it was not just to serve as a Works Progress Administration project, but also to lift the spirits of the community. That pool served the community for 80-plus years. Thousands of families visited, numerous swim meets were conducted, and countless swim lessons were taught over the years. Just a bit of trivia: the first pool manager was Frank Weiland of McCook’s Weiland Football Field fame.

10 - That is the number of years the McCook pool committee and city staff spent developing the new pool project. As a member of the committee, this actually is not a number I am proud of. Yes, good things come to those who wait, but it should not have taken us this long to build a pool. A generation of kids missed out on a decent pool to spend their summers. The reasons why it took so long are numerous and complex, but thankfully, I think the culture of McCook is changing.

Our community wants to see things happen. Our elected officials and public servants know we need to embrace these projects. Residents are willing to sacrifice now to ensure our children will have it better.

8 to 9 - That is the number of lifeguards that will be needed to operate McCook’s newest aquatic center. The former pool only needed 3 to 4 lifeguards “on deck” for the pool to be open. With the new center, we are doubling our needs, and this will be an issue.

Everyone I talk to is excited about the McCook Aquatic Center opening. Their kids can’t wait to go down the tall, twisting slides. Families will enjoy wading into the zero-depth area. And parents especially are eager to float around the lazy river. But all those new activities will require licensed, trained staff to be available to the public. We can’t just rely on high school students to provide the staffing, especially if we want - and expect - the aquatic center to be open once fall sports conditioning starts in early August.

If we want the pool to be open and available, lifeguards of all ages will be needed. And best of all, it doesn’t even cost anything right now to get your certification if you are working at the YMCA or city pool. To support these two projects, the McCook Community Foundation Fund has been providing grant funding to cover the cost of lifeguard certification at the two pools.

As a side note, I am not just talking the talk. I, along with two of my kids, am a lifeguard at the new pool to help make sure the pool is open as much as possible.

Zero - That is the cost to get into McCook’s new aquatic center. There will be no charge for anyone to get into the pool this summer. For this summer pool season, which is obviously shortened, and possibly next summer, there will be no charge to get into the aquatic center. The McCook Fund Advisory Committee wanted every person, visitors and residents alike, to be able to enjoy the new facility, so a grant was provided to the City of McCook to cover the cost of all the entry fees this summer. This won’t be permanent, but the committee knew the importance of the new facility and its role in the community and wanted to help offset any financial hindrance someone might have to going to the pool. Perhaps those dollars the kids were going to spend getting in can be used at the aquatic center’s concession stand or Mr. Bill’s van, which will likely be set up nearby.

Generational change - Perhaps the biggest number involved in McCook’s Aquatic Center really isn’t a number, but instead knowing that what we are doing will make an impact for generations to come. The new pool will change the community for at least the next - if not several - generations both physically and culturally. After all, the pool is one of many large projects taking place in McCook that is going to transform what McCook looks like and what is available for young families, like the new disc golf course at Barnett Park, an inclusive playground at Kelley Park, the East Campus at McCook Community College, and the new ball field project.

But hopefully, this pool project is also part of a shift in thinking and a change in the community’s culture. A community that knows there are big, complex issues that need to be addressed but that they can and need to be tackled. A community that doesn’t think just about what needs to be done today but rather focuses on the long-term impact. And perhaps most importantly, a community that encourages someone with an idea, providing resources and support to make it happen.

With the change in thinking to get things done, we will see new numbers: new families, new young people, new businesses, new organizations, new projects. And by combining all those new numbers to make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home.