City funds are needed for the Wilber Park pool splash pad, and the Oneonta Common Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday, May 5 on whether to authorize that additional funding, which would be separate from a previously announced donation.
The goal is to replace the existing wading pool at the Briggs Pool in Oneonta’s Wilber Park with a new, roughly 1,200-square-foot splash pad. The Future for Oneonta Foundation announced that $430,000 in funding had been secured for the project at the Tuesday, April 21 Common Council meeting. FOF Chairperson Gary Herzig said during the meeting that the wading pool was underutilized and constantly in need of repair, according to Daily Star archives.
FOF raised enough money to cover the purchase and installation of the splash pad. It would transfer the funds to the Oneonta Family YMCA, as FOF cannot do construction projects itself.
The YMCA would enter into a contract with MRC Recreation to provide and install the splash pad and equipment for about $410,000, City Administrator Greg Mattice said at the Thursday, April 30 Finance and Human Resources Committee meeting.
“The YMCA would be donating that completed improvement to the city,” Mattice said.
The total project cost is $475,000, so the city would need to fund up to $65,000, which is $20,000 more than the difference between the total project cost and the amount FOF raised.
FOF would like to retain $20,000 it received in donations in case any changes come up during construction it does not anticipate, Mattice said. He added that because FOF raised $430,000, it could donate the remaining $20,000 to the city at the conclusion of the project, potentially decreasing the city’s contribution to about $45,000.
The funding would likely come from the city’s Parks and Recreation reserve, which has an available balance of $98,000.
Mattice said after Thursday’s meeting the city’s portion of the funding would be to install a new water service and a sewer ladder, in addition to piping to connect the water service to the equipment.
Don Mathisen, D-Eighth Ward, asked at Thursday’s meeting if the city had accepted an improvement like the splash pad as opposed to a cash donation before, as it seemed unusual. City Finance Director Virginia Lee said most recently the city accepted the design for the Al Gallodoro Memorial Stage, which she booked as a donation within the capital project.
“This construction of the splash pad by the YMCA, once it is completed and has met all of the terms of the agreement, that will go on our books as a donation at the constructed value,” Lee said.
While Herzig said at the April Common Council meeting he was confident the city and the YMCA would ensure the splash pad was installed and ready for use this summer, Mattice said Thursday this would not be possible.
“Based on the feedback from MRC Recreation, their equipment lead time to receive the splash pad equipment is now 12 weeks, meaning it is impossible for this project to be done before the summer season starts,” Mattice said.
He said construction would happen in the fall, and the wading pool would remain for the upcoming summer.
After the 2026 pool season, the Department of Public Works would demolish the wading pool to then install the water service and sewer later.
Mattice said the $65,000 was unbudgeted and not planned for but was “necessary to complete the project.”
Mathisen asked that the council discuss this expenditure, as the city will be spending more money that initially planned.
The council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 at City Hall.