Des Moines city officials propose budget amendment that would save Birdland Pool
Des Moines city officials propose budget amendment that would save Birdland Pool
Campolongo has your forecast in just a few minutes. Residents upset by a new plan to close Birdland Pool in Des Moines are starting a petition to save it. As vlog Senior reporter Todd Magel shows us, the city is trying to deal with a 17-million dollar budget shortfall. <If you want to find people concerned about birdland pool closing, you don't have to father than the north high school pool right next door.> <First reaction was that it was sad> <Disaster. Disappointment. > We caught up with Karissa Chavarria and Liz Weinheimer at a swim meet at north high school. Both are big fans of swimming. both are upset after hearing Birdland pool is in danger of closing. Weinheimer has a petition with 14 hundred signatures..so far... to save it. <This is an Olympic sized swimming pool, so, it would be a huge loss, I think. Not only to the swimming community, but the community just around here> <Birdland has filtration issues, mechanical issues built in the 1920s.> Des Moines Parks and rec director Ben Page says birdland pool is Closing it after the 2025 swimming season would save 200 thousand dollars in the operating budget and 2 to 3 million dollars in repairs. <we weren't picking on Birdland or that neighborhood, we just had to find one that was again the lowest attended, the most expensive to upgrade as well as it has a backup plan to have a new facility built within a mile of it. > Page says work is underway on the new Reichardt recreation center just a mile away from Birdland. It will offer year around swimming with free or reduced cost. But birdland neighbors are not yet convinced. <If you don't want crime levels to go up or anything like that, especially with the younger youth, if you start taking away more things, especially the pool they're going to, they're going to find other things.> <The dm city council will make a final decision on whether to close birdlan
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Des Moines city officials propose budget amendment that would save Birdland Pool
Des Moines officials are changing course on a budget plan that once called for Birdland Pool to be closed. As part of efforts to address a $17 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026, City Manager Scott Sanders and Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page last month recommended closing the iconic northside swimming pool after the 2025 season.That preliminary budget has been amended, according to a news release from the city.Birdland Pool will be spared if the city council approves the latest proposal, which provides the following alternatives that would result in an annual cost savings of about $180,000:Rotating weekly closures of the city’s five major aquatic facilities. Each facility would close twice a year for one week at a time. Savings: approximately $100,000 annually. Closing the new indoor Reichardt Community Recreation Center pool during summer months when outdoor pools are open. Savings: approximately $40,000 annually. Ending the Neighborhood Association Capacity Building Grant Program, which would generate an additional $40,000 in savings. Officials cited low attendance and high repair costs as initial reasons to close Birdland, located at 300 Holcomb Ave. The location has been home to a pool since 1936. The original pool closed in 1982 and was replaced with a new pool in 1984.Last month, Des Moines residents started a petition to save the Birdland Pool that has nearly 2,200 verified signatures.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayDes Moines city budget schedule6 p.m. Feb. 25: Public budget information session at Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid Ave.6 p.m. Feb. 26: Public budget information session at Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center, 2100 SE 5th St.7:30 p.m. March 24: City Council holds public hearing on new budget property taxes 5 p.m. April 7: City Council holds public hearing on the budget
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Des Moines officials are changing course on a budget plan that once called for Birdland Pool to be closed.
As part of efforts to address a $17 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026, City Manager Scott Sanders and Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page last month recommended closing the iconic northside swimming pool after the 2025 season.
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That preliminary budget has been amended, according to a news release from the city.
Birdland Pool will be spared if the city council approves the latest proposal, which provides the following alternatives that would result in an annual cost savings of about $180,000:
- Rotating weekly closures of the city’s five major aquatic facilities. Each facility would close twice a year for one week at a time. Savings: approximately $100,000 annually.
- Closing the new indoor Reichardt Community Recreation Center pool during summer months when outdoor pools are open. Savings: approximately $40,000 annually.
- Ending the , which would generate an additional $40,000 in savings.
Officials cited low attendance and high repair costs as initial reasons to close Birdland, located at 300 Holcomb Ave. The location has been home to a pool since 1936. The original pool closed in 1982 and was replaced with a new pool in 1984.
Last month, Des Moines residents started a that has nearly 2,200 verified signatures.
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» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: |
Des Moines city budget schedule
- 6 p.m. Feb. 25: Public budget information session at Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid Ave.
- 6 p.m. Feb. 26: Public budget information session at Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center, 2100 SE 5th St.
- 7:30 p.m. March 24: City Council holds public hearing on new budget property taxes
- 5 p.m. April 7: City Council holds public hearing on the budget