by Kylee Boyter
kboyter@cherryroad.com
After years of plans, proposals, community input, and reworking the cost of a new Richfield City pool, Mayor Bryan Burrows, alongside city manager, Michele Jolley, parks and recreation manager, Brady Edwards, and the Richfield City council members secured funding from the Permanent Community Impact Board (CIB).
“This has been a long time in the works,” said Burrows. “It was well worth the wait to receive this $3.7 million dollar grand and a $5.5 million dollar low-interest loan that will make our pool projects attainable.”
Richfield City had previously presented to the CIB board last year, September 2023, and were turned down by the board members, given instruction to reduce costs.
Following the CIB’s recommendations, cost cutting measures were made by investing in a Sprung structure instead of a traditional building, the lazy river and splash pad have been removed for a future project, and additional funding has been secured through the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and U Org grant for the playground equipment at the Lion’s Park.
“The funding package the CIB offered us was tremendous and I am so grateful for that,” said Burrows. “This means a lot to Richfield City and the surrounding area.”
Burrows discussed how the new pool is designed to have the minimal number of employees, making it more economical, while still meeting the current community needs.
“The building will be directly south of the existing pool,” said Burrows. “The new park equipment will be moved to another corner of the park. Once the new pool is finished, the old one will be demolished and its footprint will become a larger parking lot.”
The goal of this process is to maintain no lapse in pool accessibility while construction is taking place.
“I have been involved in our community for over 16 years now and I feel like we are finally getting ahead of some of the projects our community has needed for a long time,” said Burrows. “I’d like to commend our city employees for always trying to make our city better.”
The request for quotes (RFQ) on the pool project have already been published and quotes will be reviewed on October 16. Mayor Burrows is hopeful to see construction begin this coming Spring/Summer of 2025.
