Moms raise $4,500 for pool

Need at least

$5,500 more,

with six days to go

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--The mothers' drive to re-open the Lincoln Park wading pool this summer has taken off like a rocket in the last two days, with $4,500 raised with six days to go.

Marka Stocker, who along with five other mothers of small children is trying to raise at least $10,000 by Thursday, reports gifts of cash totaling $3,500 since Thursday.

The women need to have the $10,000 in hand by Thursday so the issue can be placed on the City Council's agenda for its next meeting, Tuesday, June 3.

"The biggest gift so far is $1,000 from the New Ulm Area Foundation," Stocker said. "We've had a $300 donation, a number of $200-plus donations from businesses, and even a private family giving $100 which I think is awesome."

While the foundation normally makes its grants only twice a year, the foundation's Denis Warta said the board met Thursday and decided to break precedence by giving the women the $1,000 gift.

"It was the most we could do in this manner. It wasn't an issue in April, and it couldn't wait for our September grants."

The six organizers have a total of 19 children who are young enough to use the Lincoln pool. One of the mothers, Karrie Borchert, is also a day-care provider who has 10 day-care charges in addition to her own child.

During a discussion recently of proposed budget cuts in the Park and Recreation Department, its director, Dave Bechtold, in announcing the decision not to open the Lincoln pool this summer, said the department would open the pool if "someone can come up with $10,000-$11,000" which was half the estimated cost of opening the pool.

The department's other outdoor wading pool, Washington, is open this summer, but there will be no lifeguards on duty. There also is a $1 charge this summer for anyone using the pool.

Stocker said anyone wanting to donate to the Lincoln pool campaign is asked to send checks, made payable to City of New Ulm (Memo: Lincoln Park Wading Pool), to Marka Stocker, 5 Whitney Lane, New Ulm, MN 56073.

If they are unable to reach the goal, they will void and return your check promptly, Stocker said. They are not accepting pledges.

If you have questions, you can call Stocker at 507-354-7502 or Shannon Reinhart Frauenholtz at 507-359-7637.