We represent the descendants of Bob and Mavis Schellin. Many of us grew up across the street from Sweet Park and the city pool, and our summer days were spent swimming with friends. Later, we participated in summer swim team. As adults, we have taken our children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to the pool and watched the next generations of our family enjoy the facility as much as we did.

Our family believes in the mission of the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation. We believe the community pool is more than just a luxury; rather, it is a critical part of maintaining a healthy, active, and safe community. Further, we feel the pool is vital to keeping Chinook a place where young parents want to raise their children.

Phase A—the facility-saving improvements and repairs to the pool infrastructure—is estimated to cost $1.55 million. The Foundation has already raised an incredible $1.02 million dollars for the project. However, the highly-unexpected removal of Chinook’s project from consideration for the matching State grant leaves the Foundation just over $500,000 short of the funds necessary to complete these critical repairs.

The additional Phase A funds need to be raised in early 2024 to give the Foundation Board adequate time to seek and review bids so construction can begin by early fall 2024. An early fall construction start date is necessary to fully deploy the community-approved bond money in 2024.

A number of our family members have already made meaningful donations to the Pool Fund; however, in light of the shortfall described above, we recognize the immediate need to champion the cause even more.

Read more: https://www.blainecountyjournal.com/story/2024/01/03/news/schellin-family-offers-100000-matching-funds-for-pool-and-park-donations/9215.html