Marion doesn’t need an aquatic ‘boondoggle’

Leave it to Marion’s City “leaders” to turn the need for a new pool into an excuse to spend $40 million on a water park. This tops their last boondoggle — an $8 million skating rink in the heart of downtown.

These are the same people who backed a bike trail past City Hall, only to require riders to dismount and walk their bikes as they pass by. Here’s a suggestion: after walking their bikes through Marion, Council members should hop on them and ride over to Noelridge Pool in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids removed its outdated pool and built a modern facility that serves all ages — without the extravagance. Marion could do the same by rebuilding on the existing pool site. The land and infrastructure are already in place, allowing for an affordable, functional pool with admission fees far lower than what the City plans to charge at its new water park.

Scale the project to a reasonable size and use the savings to fix something that affects every household: Marion’s water system. Our hard water is so severe that I’ve had to replace water heaters far more often than friends in other cities. That’s an investment from which all residents would benefit.

Marion doesn’t need a $40 million water park. What it needs is a practical pool for families and real investment in infrastructure that serves everyone.

Mike Hayes

Marion