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RECREATION Medford swim fans ask urban renewal board for indoor pool Medford Urban Renewal Agency is going to look into building a pool Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 19, 2016 at 11:01 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 19, 2016 at 11:01 PM » RELATED CONTENT • City considers private rec center for Hawthorne Park » Social News Local swim enthusiasts urged the Medford Urban Renewal Agency Thursday to build an indoor swimming pool at Hawthorne Park. Hank Darlington, who retired to Medford, said he was spoiled where he used to live in Sacramento because it had six pools, though he acknowledged that Medford is a far smaller community. “I was amazed, surprised and disappointed that Medford didn’t have a facility where I could participate in personally,” the 80-year-old Darlington said. After listening to Darlington and others, the MURA board agreed to begin looking at the possibility of seeking new bonds to extend the life of MURA, which might provide the money to help build an indoor pool that would offer year-round events. “We’d love to do it,” said Chris Corcoran, MURA board president. He said that the MURA board, which is also the City Council, just needs to find a source of money to pay for the project, estimated to cost about $25 million. Councilor Clay Bearnson said, “I would certainly get behind a movement to get a pool in our town.” MURA was formed in 1988 to combat blight in the city. Since then it has spent more than $67 million on projects, including Pear Blossom Park next to the Lithia headquarters, Hawthorne Park improvements, parking structures and a façade improvement program that helped remodel some downtown businesses. The district is scheduled to keep operating until 2025 to pay off the bonds. But bonds could be paid off earlier, possibly by 2018. MURA gets its money from a portion of property taxes plus a special levy that brings in about $2.5 million annually. The city used to have two municipal pools, one at Hawthorne Park and the other at Jackson Elementary. After a major leak was discovered at the Hawthorne Pool, it was demolished. Since then, the city has wanted to build an indoor pool at Hawthorne, which would complement the $1.6 million remodeling of the park. Councilors wanted to know what size pool the community wants. Siouxha Tokman, head coach for Superior Stingray Swimming, said the ideal pool that would attract competitive races and allow different activities at the same time would be an Olympic style, 50-meter pool with eight lanes. A 10-lane pool would be even better because it would allow for two warm-up lanes during competitions. At a minimum, Tokman said, a 25-yard, six-lane pool would handle some of the community’s needs. The MURA board plans to hold a study session on seeking new bonds to help pay for a pool. The city expects to pay off in 2018 the last of the bonds that funded $67 million in improvements, which is earlier than the 2025 date that was originally set for the end of MURA. If MURA wanted to go after additional bonds, it would have to undergo a complicated process that takes about one year to conclude. Kyle Carson, a local teacher, said his school has a large number of lower-income students. “There’s a surprising number of kids not happy about summer,” he said. Carson said the students don’t have enough activities available during the summer. Tim Rupp, athletic director at South Medford High, said, “Obviously there is a need for a new pool in Medford.” He said it would definitely benefit the high school swim program. Ellie Carson, who is in the swim program at a local school, said, “I don’t like traveling far for swim meets.” Rebecca Cate, a math teacher at North Medford High, said she’s concerned that local children are not getting lessons in swimming, pointing out that young people are particularly susceptible to drowning. “It’s a huge concern for me as a parent and as a teacher,” Cate said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 19, 2016 at 11:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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