The parks and recreation department is looking to buy a new large inflatable for the pool, and is asking community members to help raise the estimated $7,000 it will cost to purchase the toy.
The new inflatable is a Loch Ness Monster-looking rubber creature named Nessie, and will take up about half the space of Wrangell’s indoor pool, which is approximately 25 yards long.
Wrangellites will have the opportunity to participate in a swim or walkathon April 14 to raise the funds to purchase Nessie. Participants will request community members pledge money for however many number of laps they swim or miles they walk.
Wrangell resident Devyn Moody, 20, came up with the idea to host the fundraiser for Nessie. She said she was interested in participating in a community project, and wanted to help the pool.
Moody has been posting fliers about the fundraiser around town and created an event on Facebook to try to encourage people to participate.
Recreation Coordinator Victoria Martin said without Moody’s help coordinating with the parks and recreation department, and resident’s volunteering their time and money, Nessie wouldn’t be able to make its way to Wrangell.
“If it weren’t for the generosity of our community members, it wouldn’t be possible,” she said.
The pool has seen previous inflatable toys come and go. Martin said the last pool inflatable, which was named Flipper, lasted about five years.
The large inflatables are used on Mondays and Fridays during family and general swim hours, as well as birthday parties, Martin said.
“It gets a lot of use,” she said.
However, the stitching on the inflatables wears out with time and heavy use. Martin said finding one to fit Wrangell’s indoor pool is difficult, as many are too big and made for larger water parks.
Flipper came from England, but Nessie is coming from New Zealand, Martin said. The price of shipping the inflatable toy to Wrangell adds to the cost, she said. It is her hope the pool will get about five years use out of the toy.
The walkathon will take place at the nature trail by the ballparks at 10 a.m. April 14; the swimathon is set for 9 a.m. the same day at the pool. People can pick up pledge forms for the events at the pool. Forms must be turned into the pool by April 7.
Wrangell High School students who participate in the fundraiser can earn community service hours for next year, as well.
A swimathon was also held a few months ago at the pool by Long Live Wrangell, Martin said. That fundraiser helped raise about $800 for Nessie.
Whatever money comes in from next month’s fundraising efforts, Martin said she will use to apply for matching grants to cover the full cost of Nessie. If more is raised at the swim and walkathons than what is needed to purchase the inflatable toy, Martin said the excess funds will likely be used towards additional pool toys.
Reader Comments(0)