This illustration shows what the new Rutherford Pool, at 975 N. Congress St. may look like when construction is completed.
Courtesy Friends of the Rutherford Pool
The Ann Arbor Awesome Foundation has awarded a $1,000 grant to the Friends of the Rutherford Pool, to go toward the reopening of Ypsilanti's only public pool.
The Friends are trying to raise an additional $51,000 to reach its goal of $1,020,000 by the end of April to reopen the Rutherford Pool.
The Friends already have raised about $11,000 of the total needed.
John Weiss, the chairman of Friends of the Rutherford Pool, the volunteer organization responsible for operating and maintaining the pool said in addition to the A2 Awesome Foundation, the latest gifts came from Marsh Plating and Cueter Chrysler.
Weiss said the city is requiring the Friends to have $894,000 in cash and grants to move forward. Weiss said the amount cannot include pledges.
"We need to have that amount in cash commitments," Weiss said. "There have been some that have been coming in as pledges and the city won't let us count that."
Weiss said the grant comes at a critical time as the group is in its final fundraising push.
The timing of this gift came at a critical point, as we’re reaching the home stretch,” Weiss said. “The individuals who make up our area’s Awesome Foundation are some of our area’s most engaged citizens, and their support goes beyond the gift itself. They’re really helping to advocate and promote the Rutherford Pool cause broadly in our area.”
The pool was built in 1971 and was shut down in 2011, after nearly 40 years of service, due to significant structural and mechanical problems.
Weiss said he's hoping to have the pool open for part of the summer, although a specific date has yet to be set.
Friends of the Rutherford Pool are hopeful construction will begin by May.
AnnArbor.com previously reported the projects cost has continued to increase over time because of pool construction estimates rising and the state's requirement of complying with prevailing wage laws.
Brian Tell, a Friends board member, said pool construction estimates received 18 months ago have increased by more than 15 percent.
Friends' members have said the pool is crucial to the local community. At peak season, attendance at the pool averaged about 350 people daily, with some averaging more than 500. Pool visits in 2010 totaled approximately 15,000.
"We haven’t traditionally contributed toward capital campaigns.” said A2Awesome Co-Chair Linh Song in a statement. “But, in this case, we really felt that we had to do it. The Rutherford Pool is vital resource for Ypsilanti."
The foundation’s grants are all $1,000 and the money is all contributions from the foundation’s 12 board members. The group is based on the Boston-based Awesome foundation and is one of 40 chapters operating around the world including chapters in Detroit and Grand Rapids.
Contributions, which are tax deductible, can be made by contacting Friends member John Weiss at weissjk@umich.edu, visiting www.forpool.org or directly to the Rutherford Pool Fund at the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, housed at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation at 301 N. Main St., Suite 300.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.