Yes vote has pool group, city leaders collaborating on next steps

Members of the Dive Into Project Pool Greenfield 2027 planning committee have taken a victory lap with the rest of those who voted for a bond issue to build a new pool last week and are looking forward to kicking off the next phase of the process in earnest.

The ballot question of whether the city should bond for a not-to-exceed amount of $1 million, to go toward a new pool, passed with 66.93% saying yes to it. Eventually, a new pool will replace the current 1940s pool, which is deteriorating in condition and safety, in addition to being less and less efficient to operate.

“I’m so very grateful to the voters and the Greenfield community for their yes vote in favor of moving forward with a new pool,” Renee Schwartz, a member of the planning committee said. “There is still much work to do, and I am excited to get started with the fundraising phase. We have an amazing community in Greenfield.”

Schwartz and others went on, thanking the city council, mayor and city staff who have “supported and believed in this project,” sharing their knowledge and expertise along the way.

“Their commitment and courage exemplify the American spirit — building a bright future for generations to come,” Schwartz said.

Committee member Jacque Eblen said she’s grateful for the vision shown by the community and the ways a new pool can make Greenfield a place residents continue to want to raise a family. Susie Olesen added a quote from Margaret Mead that talks about a “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens” being able to make a difference.

‘Tight window’

While the estimated cost of the pool is $5-6 million and the bond is for $1 million, other funding sources for the new pool can come from grants, individuals or corporations and businesses. To date, almost $1.1 million has been donated by individuals and businesses.

“We have a tight window for fundraising, and we will need to raise about $4 million in the next few months to reach our goal, but we believe it can be done,” Schwartz said. “We have a dedicated group of volunteers who have been and continue to work tirelessly in this effort.”

Donations may be given through the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation. The pool project also has a website, www.greenfieldpool.com.

Background

In the summer of 2023, two committes were formed: a pool advisory committee and a pool operating committee. The advisory committee helped with researching and doing background tasks to gather information on the feasibility of building a new pool.

Throughout last year and into this summer, the advisory committee held presentations and discussions on research and recommendations for a new pool. The public referendum vote was authorized by the city council in September and the newest committee, Dive Into Project Pool 2027 Greenfield, went to work with public information and engagement this fall.

Moving forward

The pool committee has developed a working timeline to guide fundraising and community engagement for the new pool. The city of Greenfield will oversee partner relationships, design, grant writing, contracting and construction, while the committee focuses on donor outreach and engagement. Public input opportunities will be offered by the city of Greenfield as the project nears its fundraising goals.

The city plans to award a design contract once fundraising goals are achieved. If funds are secured by late summer, construction could begin in fall 2026, with the new pool slated to open in May 2027. Project timing will depend on the pace of donor support.