By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Those planning and fundraising for Marshfield’s proposed outdoor aquatic center have announced a major donor which has secured naming rights. That’s what City Parks & Recreation Director Justin Casperson told members of the Marshfield Common Council on May 26.

Casperson said:

Casperson said the naming rights donation brings the private fundraising total to $2.5 million, or 85 percent of the $3 million goal.

Alderman Tom Witzel said additional donors may become very difficult to find under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Witzel said:

Meanwhile, Casperson said other naming rights do exist on the project.

Joe Dolezal of Boson Construction told the Council the construction industry is getting very competitive, and the city could benefit from closing Hefko Pool for this year, putting those operational and maintenance costs toward the new aquatic center, and moving ahead with getting bids.

Dolezal said:

Early in the project, the council signed off on a challenge grant, and agreed to cover half the cost of a new swimming pool for the city, if community fundraising efforts could raise the other half. The cost of the project had been planned at $3 million from the city and $3 million from private donors. But last November, the council learned of an additional $500,000 needed to cover soft costs associated with the construction, which aldermen agreed to pay for.

Construction was originally scheduled to start this July, with completion set for next spring. Ayres Associates of Eau Claire is the designer and engineer, and the Boson Company will oversee the construction.

Meanwhile, donations toward the project are still being accepted through the city Parks & Recreation Department website at ci.marshfield.wi.us/departments/ parks_and_recreation/donate.php or by calling the Marshfield Area Community Foundation at 715-384-9029.