Lakeside continues fundraising for pool, wellness center

LAKESIDE - With the scorching sun and muggy humid air, Saturday was just the kind of day where getting soaked came as a welcome relief to the sweltering heat.

Dozens of Lakesiders did exactly that by participating in the “community’s largest water balloon toss” Saturday morning, which despite being relatively early already had stifling temperatures in the 80s.

While plenty of families enjoyed tossing balloon after balloon, even as frequent pops brought big splashes, the hope is that there will be a lot more water at the same location by summer next year.

The event was held at the future site of Lakeside’s Pool & Wellness Center, next to the Williams Tennis Campus on Sixth Street, and took place alongside a site gathering to educate community members about the vision for the ongoing project.

“Last summer the community really express a need for a swimming pool, area for water aerobics, swimming lessons, and increased exercise classes,” said Gretchen Colon, of Lakeside Chautauqua. “Lakeside thought if we had an opportunity to offer that in the area, we could increase the amount of wellness in the community.”

In addition to a planned 6,500-square-foot outdoor pool, which can accommodate around 400 swimmers at any one time, there will also be an indoor facility for exercise classes and wellness programs.

Bill Drackett, chairmen of the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation, said the access to the pool and wellness center will likely be tied to Lakeside’s existing gate fee, with no additional charge.

The project is estimated to cost $2.5 million to $3 million and is being financed through community contributions and fundraising campaigns. Nearly $2 million has been raised and pledged thus far, and Colon said they are within “striking distance” of the final goal.

If they meet the estimated costs in time, Lakeside is committed to breaking ground by Labor Day this year.

Kevin Sibbring, president and CEO of Lakeside Chautauqua, said has actually contemplated pool for a long time, even as far back as the 1950s. However, it was not until more recently that it emerged as a top priority.

Sibbring said they though continued engagement with community members to find out how they felt the best ways to preserve Lakeside for future generations, the pool came as a No. 1 need along with an emphasis on wellness and health.

“It’s all about, not only living longer, but having high quality life throughout that lifetime, which couples really well with our mission at Lakeside to nature mind, body and spirit,” Sibbring said. “So we’re excited, really enthusiastic about it.”

jstinchcom@gannett.com

419-680-4897

Twitter: @JonDBN