When the Wetlands Waterpark at Great Bend opened 20 years ago, one of the exciting features was the new giant tipping bucket that fills with 300 gallons of water and then releases that water on anyone standing below it: If you dare!
Here’s some good news for fans of the big bucket: It’s not going away.
That was one of the questions people asked last week when the City of Great Bend released some drawings of the proposal for the next municipal swimming pool. The drawings didn’t show the bucket, so people asked if it would still be there.
One Facebook poster asked, “Does this still include the bucket and slide water feature like the other renderings did? I like this layout more than prior with the launch slide having its own section.”
Councilman Cory Urban responded, “Yes, the water feature with the slides and bucket will remain.”
Maybe someone with a laser pointer or a Sharpie will make it clear at the Dec. 15 City Council meeting. (This is being written in advance of the meeting.) It’s only natural for people to have questions. The feedback on Facebook has been a mixture of positive excitement, thoughtful suggestions, and negative comments.
The City, for its part, posted the concept renderings with this comment:
“While we’re grateful for the many years the Wetlands Waterpark has served the Great Bend community since 1936, this new pool project as a part of the quality-of-life CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) will introduce a variety of amenities to enhance the experience for all who visit. Some of those amenities include a 215-foot lazy river, 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards, a 34-foot-tall fly-time slide, a 31-foot tall open-body slide, basketball goal, climbing wall, eight swimming lanes, ADA slides, spray features, along with multiple shade structures.” More details were to be provided at the Dec. 15 City Council meeting.
People may not realize how much work has already gone into this project. A pool committee went through several concepts with the engineering firm, which was mindful of the city’s budget. Now that drawings are coming out, people want to second-guess the committee. Some wonder if this should go to a vote.
In one sense, the voters approved it back when a majority voted for a quality-of-life sales tax of 0.15%. This project was planned knowing it will require a general obligation bond, with the idea of using that tax to pay for it.
In another sense, the public could feasibly vote this down. There will be a protest period in which people could petition to vote yes or no on the general obligation bond. If you voted in the November general election – most people didn’t – you can sign a petition. Someone would have to create that petition and gather signatures of at least 5% of those who voted in the last general election, and it would all have to be done in about 30 days. So if people are dead set on having a chance to vote this down, a protest petition would force an election on the bond. This would not be an election on a choice of pool layouts. It would be whether or not to allow a general obligation bond for the project.
We hope that does not happen. The City already has a quality-of-life sales tax; therefore, no new taxes will be needed to pay for this bond. We have already approved the tax; we just have to decide how it will be used. This project is at a tipping point. We can send it back to the drawing board or we can move ahead with something our residents will enjoy and visitors will come to see for years to come. It may be time to get started: If we dare stand the onrush of toxic feedback .
Susan Thacker is the editor of the Great Bend Tribune. Contact her at sthacker@gbtribune.com.
