KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Summer is unofficially over now that Labor Day has ended and one word to describe the season is definitely cool. The Aquatic Center in Kirksville experienced slow business at its outdoor pool most of the summer season. Although the outdoor pool is closed, the indoor pool is open Monday through Saturday.
“We’re offering adult swimming lessons this fall and we’re also offering some different, bubble buddies which is a parent-child class which is something that we haven’t offered in the past. Essentially our numbers really were hurt because of the weather. It wasn’t anything that we did at the pool. The pool was still open and folks had fun it was just cool outside and that affected our attendance,” said Community Services Director Melanie Smith.
The Aquatic Center is open for lap swimming Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and Monday through Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The restrooms in Brashear Park have been closed for a little over a week after a fire destroyed the men’s restroom. The towel dispenser was used to intentionally set the building on fire. No suspects have been named but planning is underway to build a new bathroom and prevent vandalism in the future.
“We’ll have to look at all of the costs. Security cameras obviously are very expensive. We do have the means to lock it, obviously we lock it in the winter after the restrooms have been winterized. So it’s something that we could certainly consider locking the restroom. It takes someone to go around at 11:00 at night and lock all of those facilities,” said Smith.
Smith says in this case, the fire occurred around 9:30 at night so locking the restroom at 11:00 wouldn’t have prevented the vandal from entering the facility.
The insurance company has yet to assess the damage but it will most likely be a total loss. Porta-potties will be available through October.
The city of Kirksville has about ten parks scattered throughout town. But some citizens think they’re missing a dog park. The city says they’re willing to work together to make a dog park a reality.
“There is a group of citizens who are in that that are interested in helping us plan that facility as well as do some fundraising and features that the dog park would need primarily, we need security fencing to keep the dogs from running out into the street. We would also need to get the water and utilities moved up to a location that would be more convenient,” said Smith.
Smith says right now the city is looking into changing the two-acre road side park along Business 63 into a fenced in, leash less dog park.
Ottumwa recently opened a bark park after a group of about 10 volunteers raised $9000 beginning in October of 2008. That park is one acre large right now but three acres are set aside for use in the future.
Smith says if you would like to volunteer to help with the dog park, call city hall at 660-627-1224.
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