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Two of four public meetings were conducted last week to gather input for improving the city-owned Luverne Area Aquatics and Fitness.
More than 60 people attended the July 13 sessions at the Luverne Elementary School commons with two additional meetings conducted Wednesday, July 20.
Pool commission members Nate Golla and Trisha Viessman facilitated the focus groups.
“Luverne has always been progressive in continually improving the facility to what the community needs and wants,” Golla said.
Community wellness is a priority set by city leaders.
Wellness, Viessman explained, has five components. The current aquatics and fitness center only meets one, the physical. To meet wellness emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual components, the facility would need improvements.
“This facility is being widely used and if we can develop or improve on the current facility we can provide a great spectrum of wellness,” Golla said.
The public meetings allowed citizens to add their own ideas on how the city can meet all wellness needs.
“No idea is too crazy,” Golla said. “There’s nothing we won’t listen to.”
The pool commission shared suggestions. These suggestions included a drop-in day care or child watch area, additional floor space for more exercise classes, a walking track, a social area, an outdoor splash park, longer business hours, updated locker rooms and the addition of family rooms/separate shower area.
Attendees added some new suggestions: a multi-purpose area for basketball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, a rock wall; a year-round splash park; technology and/or Internet access throughout the building; an indoor play area; and a salt water lap pool, among others.
Last year’s attendance at the facility was 78,000; last month’s attendance was 11,000.
The pool commission will conduct more focus groups this fall to gather more information. Golla said the commission wants to hear from a cross section of city and county residents.