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The availability of programs at the pool has made a huge difference in my personal health and well being.  It has also made a positive difference in the lives of our 2 children and family as a whole.  As a family, we truly love the water.  We go swimming and boating at both of Cottage Groves beautiful lakes as well as rafting in the river.  I am so thankful that Cottage Grove has a pool that is open for public use.  It makes Cottage Grove a great place to live!  

-- Russ Garrison, former Cottage Grove High School Swimmer and Water Polo Player

The Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center opened its doors in 1955, and was the result of a community effort and the generosity of the Daugherty Family.  During the 1940s, many women in town joined the workforce replacing the men who were off fighting the war.  In order to accommodate local children, a group of women in town, including Ina Daugherty, supervised a recreation program.  This program was renewed and enlarged each summer during and after the war.  One of the activities the children enjoyed was swimming at local swimming holes on the Row River.


Submitted by KVAL Communities Staff
Thursday, July 14th, 2:27 pm
Topics: Community Spirit, Events, Sports & Recreation

From  a press release:

In an effort to help the “Save our Pool” fund, Dark30 Sports is sponsoring three teams for the Rolf Prima Tri at the Grove triathlon on July 24th at Cottage Grove Lake’s Lakeside Park. The fundraising efforts are all focused on raising $25,000 to keep the Cottage Grove community pool (Daugherty Aquatic Center) open through the end of the year.

Dark30 Sports also teamed with the Cottage Grove Daugherty Aquatic Center’s “Save Our Pool” group to support a triathlon for elementary school students organized by Cottage Grove businessman Ron O’Keefe July 9 at the Cottage Grove pool.

The sunny day brought out 39 children and their parents for the morning swim, bike and run. Every child was a winner and received gold-colored ‘Finisher’ ribbons. The entry fees went to the “Save Our Pool” fund.

David Zunno Triathlon Photo
David Zunno is hoping to use his entry into the Tri at the Grove triathlon to build support and raise money to keep the Cottage Grove pool open.

David Zunno: "I am happy to support the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center in Cottage Grove. Having moved to the area in 2005 I found the pool and staff to be an asset to myself and the community as a whole. I have competed in swimming and springboard diving as well as track and field events and ball sports from age 12 through college. Currently with Oregon Masters Swimming and a business member of the Oregon Track Club, cycling, swimming and running have always been and are still my main athletic activities for staying strong and flexible. The pool has provided and excellent training facility as I prepared for the 2009 Portland Freshwater Trust Triathlon and the Oregon Masters Swim Championships in Bend. I continued to use the pool in 2010 to rehabilitate my shoulder from a severe dislocation and continue to use it now as I prepare for the upcoming triathlon here in Cottage Grove on July 24th at Cottage Grove Lake. I am proud to compete in the Tri At The Grove sponsored by Rolf Prima Wheels in the name of the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center."

In the 1950s, the community of Cottage Grove came together to build a municipal pool to teach the children of Cottage Grove to swim.  Over the last 65 years, children have been taught to swim, championship teams have trained, adults have exercised, and families have spent quality time together.  Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center has served our community in countless ways.

But keeping the pool funded continues to be a challenge.  With our School District budgets tightening, we need to raise a minimum of $25,000 to keep the pool open through the end of the year.   This will also allow us more time to work on long range funding through grants, fundraisers, and a possible bond measure.

YOU CAN HELP!

KVAL News: Cottage Grove tries to save community pool

on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 10:35

http://cottagegrove.kval.com/news/news/cottage-grove-tries-save-community-pool/246827

Cottage Grove tries to save community pool

 
 
Monday, May 16th, 10:22 am
 
 
The Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center opened in Cottage Grove more than 50 years ago. The South Lane School District owns it. The district said there is no money to keep the pool afloat.

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - For 12-year-old Betsy Barton, saving the Warren H. Daughtry Aquatic Center means a lot of laps.

On Sunday afternoon, Barton reached the bulkhead of the center’s pool, made a swift turn and was off for lap 102.

It’s part of a "lapathon" fundraising effort where swimmers collect pledges of donations for each lap Barton swims, and the aquatic center is relying on fundraising efforts to keep the pool and its programs afloat.