Branham says Walton Pool on schedule to open Memorial Day weekend

By Ralph Pokorny

A lot of people have called the city asking if Walton Pool will be open Memorial Day weekend.

"Yes we will," Carol Branham, Nevada Parks and Recreation director told the parks board Wednesday afternoon.

The supports for the new water slide have been installed and work on the concrete decking will start soon.

"This Friday the slide crew will be back and start assembling it," Branham said.

It will take about two weeks to complete it, she said.

The slide is being built by a California company that has about 150 similar slides to finish by this summer, Mike Ast, parks department project manager, said.

"We were very fortunate we got on their list last fall," he said.

Ast told the board that the city has done a lot of work on the restrooms at Walton Park so they will require less maintenance.

He said that he also intends to insulate the restrooms, relocate some of the water lines and install some small heaters so they can be used year around.

There a lot of people who use that park during the winter, he said.

In other business the board:

* Voted to approve a season pass for rental golf carts. This is a new program and the fee for the season pass will be $500 and will require council approval before it takes effect. None of the other fees at the course will be changed. Ten of the 35 carts the city rents at the Frank E Peters Municipal Golf Course will be used for this program. Between 15 and 20 cars are rented on an average day.

"It would cost more to bring in additional carts when needed than to have the current number," Branham said.

The season pass will not include usage during tournaments and these cars will be available for other's to rent when they are not in use by season pass holders.

"Dan Davis is looking at this as a public service," Branham said adding that she has already had several requests for the season pass from people in El Dorado Springs.

* Voted to recommend that the city council waive the restriction on overnight stays in city parks so the Vietnam Veterans of America can hold the 2004 Watch Fire in Marmaduke Park, Sept. 18 and 19.

* Voted to support bringing a Pitch, Hit and Run competition to Nevada and if there is enough room to hold a sectional Competition here. The closest competitions are in Kansas City and Mount Vernon. This program will be co-sponsored by Major League baseball.

* Agreed to hold a special meeting April 7 to discuss the fee structure for the new family aquatic park.