North Lincoln community prepares to ask city council for pool funding a second time

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Meadowlane Community of North Lincoln refuses to throw in the towel when it comes to getting their local pool re-opened.

The pool closed several years ago due to aging parts and the need for pricey renovations.

Since then, community leaders rallied together to fundraise about $700,000, but it isn’t enough.

The group hopes that the City of Lincoln would cover the remaining $125,000, but the proposal they submitted failed to be approved in a 3-3 vote.

Community members met on Wednesday night at the pool to talk next steps.

They spent time sharing tips on how to be ready for the next public hearing on Aug 3. where they plan to re-introduce the proposal with amendments.

Terri Bayne, who has lived in the area for 25 years, was at the meeting.

She described what the pool’s atmosphere was like through the years.

“It was so family oriented, and everybody knew each other,” she said.

Another person in attendance was mom of five, Alyssa Prunty.

“Our youngest daughter, when we moved here, she was one year old, she took her first lessons at this swimming pool,” she said.

“No one wants to give up on it. We want this pool back open.”

Council member James Michael Bowers led Wednesday’s meeting.

He told Channel 8 why the project is meaningful to him.

“Meadowlane pool did exactly what we so often ask our communities to do. They organized, they went from a private pool to a 501(c),” said Bowers.

“This is a pool that is going to be open to the public, it is not going to be a membership-based project.”

Opposing Bowers’ push for the funding, is councilmember Tom Duden.

During a phone call with Channel 8 before the meeting, he explained his stance on the matter.

“I think it opens up the door for taxpayers to give money to nonprofits, and what I’m afraid of, is this would be kind of a domino effect by giving to one, and then, what if we don’t give it to somebody else,” he said.

Bowers said this pool will be for everyone and plan to take part in community programming.

Duden is offering up a different solution; a public activity bond.

He says that it would be a loan to the community from the city, but Bowers said, it’s not a good idea.

“I think starting off this pool with debt is not the way to go,” he said.

The goal is to reopen the pool for 2027.

One of the youngest people in attendance on Wednesday, explained what she’s most excited for.

“To jump off the diving board and play with friends,” said 10-year-old Charli Kubicek.

The public hearing will be held at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Aug 3, after that, the city council will vote on the budget on Aug 12.