June 05, 2012
6/5/2012 2:00:00 AM
Peru pool fundraising to be revived
Peru’s outdoor pool in Washington Park sits empty for a third straight summer after it the city decided not to open it because of dilapidation. The Friends for Peru Pool Committee started raising funds for a new pool but has now dissolved due to what committee chairwoman Pam Paden said is a lack of city support. NewsTribune photo/Amanda Whitlock
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Peru’s outdoor pool in Washington Park sits empty for a third straight summer after it the city decided not to open it because of dilapidation. The Friends for Peru Pool Committee started raising funds for a new pool but has now dissolved due to what committee chairwoman Pam Paden said is a lack of city support.
The Friends for Peru Pool Committee has dissolved but interest is building to reform it and kick-start fundraising.
The citizen group formed in late 2010 and raised nearly $100,000 for a new outdoor pool since the city closed the old pool in Washington Park in the spring of 2010. Pam Paden, the group’s chairwoman, submitted a letter to the mayor and aldermen before they met Monday night saying the group dissolved primarily because of “the lack of support from city leadership.”
“We can no longer in good conscience ask the taxpaying people of our community to continue to donate their hard-earned money toward a project that hasn’t come to fruition despite repeated requests of our City’s leadership,” Paden wrote. “We were fortunate to have had the involvement of a few city leaders, however, it just wasn’t enough to propel this initiative to the level of importance that the committee felt it should have.” Paden did not attend the meeting. Alderman Tony Ferrari raised the issue for discussion, saying he disagreed with Paden’s letter and announcement of dissolution. He recommended the council’s public property and accounts and finance committees meet with the mayor and interested citizens to keep it going.
Gina Martin and Debbie Noonan of Peru attended the council meeting and said that Paden’s announcement did not reflect their intent, and they are interested in seeing the committee reunite. Meetings were infrequent and unproductive, they said. “We sat stagnant all winter,” Noonan said.
Alderwoman Sherry Mayszak said the committee needs restructuring. It had planned a Family Fun Day for July 1, as it did last year to raise money for a pool, but this is now cancelled. However, there will be a car show July 1 in Washington Park to raise funds for a pool.
Mayszak called a meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday at city hall for anyone interested in raising funds for a pool.
The pool group raised $95,565, deposited into a fund managed by the city, Paden told the NewsTribune.
“The funds that we have raised will remain intact and under the direction of the Peru City Treasurer with the intention of allocating them to an aquatic recreation project in the event Peru’s leadership deems it a community priority,” she said. The city learned last year it did not qualify for a $2.5 million state pool grant. Previous plans showed a new pool would cost about $3 million. In 2010, prior to the pool season, the city hired Williams Aquatics of Carol Stream for $15,000 to study the old pool. In a letter to the city the company said: “The Peru Municipal Pool is severely compromised and in a state of structural failure. Due to the age and fragile existing condition of the pool, construction activities may damage the pool.”
After the consultant’s report, after years of leaks and after hearing from insurance and legal advisors, the city chose to keep the pool closed. Paden told the News Tribune that the city has focused on what it sees as more important property repairs.
“I think the city feels the streets are imperative, and that’s fair enough,” Paden said. “At the same time I think there’s more to a community than just the roads.” “We were fortunate to have had the involvement of a few city leaders, however, it just wasn’t enough to propel this initiative to the level of importance that the committee felt it should have,” Paden wrote in her letter to the council. The city is planning this summer to demolish the old pool and pool house, which is across from the public library and northwest of Washington School. On May 2 the council tabled a motion to authorize seeking bids for demolition.
Jeff Dankert can be reached at (815) 220-6977 or perureporter@newstrib.com.Peru pool fundraising to be revived - LaSalle News Tribune - LaSalle, IL
22 comments:
It was a such a good idea to close the pool in the first place. I would think the citizens of peru would have gotten wise to Scott Harl at that point. It's sad that all surounding communities have very nice pools for there citizens to enjoy. Here we are "The Leader Of The Illinois Valley". Falling so far behind its discusting. I find it interesting that the some of the council members last year wanted nothing to do with giving SMALL donations to car clubs of fishing events. Yet if i recall correctly, these same council members sat there with thier hands out looking for donations for the pool. Whats that all about. We don't need the carnival to come back to town. We already have one. Every other Monday and Wednesday at fourth and fulton.
Peru fire department(liberty fire company) sends out letters asking for donations. (use we taxpayers donations for sever cookouts(steaks,etc.) a year. Which I have a Hugh problem with. Maybe if the swimming pool fundraising re-emerges they could send out letters relating to donations and hopefull the person who is in charge would see to it that the donates monies is saved for it's intended purpose! This would be another start to raising money. However, a long way to the finish line.
Have a three day 2nd hand sale of household items, donated to fundraiser. Have another 3 day sale of just donated clothing. Have sale at Peru Washington gymnasium. Have grill set up, hotdogs, brats, pork chops, soda,chips. Have alderman get volunteers from their wards. Good to go. Maybe volunteer (p.o.c.), fireman donate some time! It all adds up. PERU NEEDS TO FIND A WAY TO GET A POOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY!
11:25 If I could give you one tip, it would be to learn how to spell. I don't think that sending out a mailer like Liberty fire co does is the answer. For two reasons.1 Im pretty sure that liberty fire co is a non for profit organization. So that would make them dependent on donations.2 the city already take more and more money from the citizens every month. I can assure you that I'm not the only person in Peru that notices their bill change every month. By change I mean go up or down by $40. When I haven't done anything different. Maybe we should start by not electing idiots. I don't know Baker but I bet he sits back and laughs at the way the city is run now.
Because of the controversy regarding the elimination of the 28th street tennis court we were told by the mayor and aldermen that they have no authority to override the recs decisions. According to them the rec commission has complete and total control of our parks and the equipment within. So could someone please explain why the mayor was able to make the decision to close the swimming pool without rec permission.
To 11:58. It would be TAKES not TAKE. Your blog seems that you may be having a bad day to be upset over some spelling. Practice what you preach!!! I'm sure you are aware of how typing on a phone can be with small screens and numbers and letters , don't forget big fingers. Hope you have a better afternoon.
I know that when some strangely spelled words occur in posts, that the user is typing on one of those small key pads and I understand and don't have an issue with it.
In agreement Lois. Actually 11:25 has some valid points and for the blogger that belittled spelling errors must not have any valid points.
11:57. If you are going to capatilize the l in Liberty, then the f for fire should be capitalized and the c should be capatalized for company (spell word out completely). A little advice from a soon to be retired teacher in Peru.
Sounds like a wonderful idea to send out mailers requesting donations to be put into its fundraising account, for the Peru pool. Liberty Fire Company (fundraising organization, non-profit) does it.
Our mayor and council should be working for the future of our city. As the fiasco with the way in which the city handled and still is handling the upcoming concert for a cause, in which the city of Peru is not benefitting financially from, something needs to change. Idea: Organize something such as battle of the bands for 10 hours. Start a polka band from 1-3 P.M., country 3-5 P.M., etc...city charge $25 for all day ticket , city makes all proceeds from beverages, city sells easy grilling items, allow other food vendors (charge accordingly $500 for day ??). This event would be marketed to every age group. The evening bands would be the popular bards that play in the area. This event could be at Washington park. No vendors could sell water or any other beverages. $25 per ticket might be high, charge accordingly depending on what's to be paid to bands.
I don't agree with much in how department in the city are run. Ex:: departments heads being appointed by the mayor, the list goes on. However, the pool has been in need if a replacement for years, prior to Harls reign. Baker and his boys should have seen and prepared for replacement of pool. That club knew of problems with pool. Here we have it! Spending of taxpayers monies on trucks, signs, etc.. Now with Harl. We need a new governmental body that will do and promote what is for the better for the city of Peru. Peru taxpayers deserve a pool, or at least a splash pool until a pool can be forthcoming. Same song and dance, just another day.
2:45 PM
Ask the city how often I have asked for a consideration of a splash pad while we build upon a pool fund. It simply falls upon deaf ears. No one is interested. I think we all know a pool will be years but a splash pad could be next year if we start getting the permits NOW,
I encourage all of you to speak to your aldermen or it will be another year gone by with nothing done. Other cities have done it and we can too. Set a small goal and work your way up to the pool or generations will have no summer play.
WHY IS FAMILY FUN DAY CANCELLED THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 1st???
3:33 PM
It seems that only fun allowed in Peru is to play pickle ball or go the the Kid Rock Concert. If you don't like your choices, La Salle is going to have some events this summer and I believe Oglesby and maybe Spring Valley will. Ottawa always has something going on and they even have a splash pad.
Evidently no family fun day either Lois. U wonder how many of the alderman have children/grandchildren between the ages of 3-17 years old. That don't have pools Un their back yards. I'm willing to guess not too many. That's why it falls in deaf ears. Because if they have children/grandchildren in that age group they have other places to swim. Unlike the majority of people in Peru.
Lois: Nothing has been, or will get done until we can get new elected officials in city council. And if it is true that city council can not over ride the decisions then that is complete bulls*&t. The powers of the rec commission should be no different than the infrastructure committee: providing ADVICE, nothing more.
This weekend LaSalle has a 4 days on fun starting Thursday! Go have fun! Wear your swimsuits, pool open! A free day where you can enjoy a splash pad is on the riverfront in Peoria. Beside old Chicago pizza. Pack a picnic lunch, beautiful park, picnic areas, it's FREE!! The SPLASH PAD there is something to check out!
Maybe Noonan will donate any leftover profits she's planning on for herself. Or maybe she will fully donate monies from her personal account for a splash pad. From concert! Eventually when a pool can be built, maybe the city would vote to have the girls washroom named after noonan. It could be called "Noonan's Pad.". This would be as a Thank You for splash pad! Also, let's not forget, "it's a tax write-off."
I would like to Thank Mrs. Paden, and that committee for all of their hard work and dedication for trying to make a pool come back to Peru. For any fundraising group to raise the amount of money the city of Peru would need there would need to be some very dedicated and intelligent citizens along with members of city hall including the mayor to make it a success. With that said.... Peru would still be looking out 5-10 years for a pool. The word has it, that there were only three volunteers on that committee. What happened to the aldermen and the large group of volunteers that were there last year? I would really like to see a pool within the city again but to be honest I can't see it in my lifetime.
Go to the Ottawa Visitor Centers website and look up their calendar of events. Something of culture other than a big old drunken drug and beer bash every weekend. Look up Starved Rock's website. Activities almost every day. Free too! I would send you to Peru's Visitor Center and website but.... Damn, I forgot. We don't have one. Guess shopping at the mall is your only entertainment. Sorry folks. And now you ask why our youth leave the area?
For the soon to be retired teacher, you only spelled capitalized correctly once out of three times.
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