April 19, 2024

MPAC raising funds for pool through private donations

By SARAH SCULL

The McKinley Park Aquatic Center (MPAC) design features a renovation to the City of Creston's current lap pool. The design proposal showcases a long underwater bench, a dual panel climbing wall, faux rockscape waterfalls, 1- and 3- meter platform diving stands and an enclosed drop slide. For more information about the MPAC, visit thempac.org. (MPAC photo)

With the city and county facing the potential of new expenditures this fiscal year, some residents expressed concern regarding the funding source of the McKinley Park Aquatic Center (MPAC), a project estimated at $5.4 million.

According to Mindy Stalker and Sam Baird, who serve as volunteers on the MPAC committee, the funds are currently being raised by private individuals.

“We’re still in the early stages of fundraising. Our main focus at this point is really just to get the word out about our plan and to really build community support,” said Stalker.

Baird said proving community support to a grant committee goes a long way in securing those funds.

“We’re really just having fundraisers here and there and to keep people talking about it,” said Baird.

According to Baird, once enough money is raised to prove community support, the committee will seek matching grant opportunities.

City involvement

Ultimately, the City of Creston will own and operate the pool once it is built, just as it does now.

The city paid $8,400 to Waters Edge Aquatic Design for a feasibility study, which is how the committee secured a design. Additionally, the funds raised are run through city accounting.

“We run all of our funds through city accounting because we are, technically, kind of a subcommittee of park and rec,” said Stalker. “They approve all of our expenditures and contracts and the the park and rec send those to the city council to be approved. but we raise all of our own money, so all of that money that is spent is from funds that we have raised. The city isn’t putting funds into that account.”

“The reason is so that individuals can have a tax deduction, a donation, through the City of Creston earmarked ‘MPAC funds,’ because the city operates a municipal entity,” said Baird.

In order to apply for future grants, the MPAC committee has teamed up with Crestland Betterment Foundation, a 501c3, who will serve as the committee’s fiscal agent in the grant application process.

Stalker said when the idea of fundraising for the project began, the committee did not see a need to “recreate the wheel.”

“There is already a 501c3 that is for the betterment of the community,” said Stalker. “Once the funds are raised, once this is up and going, and once we know that this is a sustainable aquatic center, there’s really no reason for this committee to exist anymore. So it seemed silly for us to go through all that paperwork for a 501c3.”

For more information about McKinley Park Aquatice Center, visit thempac.org.

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MPAC presents A Night Out with Hypnotist Comedian Rick Bultez

Saturday, October 20

Happy hour at 6 p.m. and show begins at 7 p.m.

Eagles Lodge #1398, 300 E. Montgomery St., Creston

Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door and can be purchased at Stalker Chevrolet.