The Murray-Calloway County Parks and Recreation Department has launched a public fundraiser just a month after voters rejected a potential "nickel tax". The department’s teaming up with the Murray-Calloway County Community Foundation and nonprofit Red Basket in asking for donations in person or online.
Parks Director Tab Brockman says the department needs about $60,000 to address immediate concerns.
“We wanted to try to start with goals that we thought were attainable - and frankly keep us operating, keep us solvent and address the pool, then move from there.”
Brockman says inspecting the city’s leaking pool will run about $10,000, according to quotes from contractors in Memphis, St. Louis and Indiana.
The rest will replenish the park emergency fund that’s run dry after a series of unexpected repairs.
"That's been slowly dwindling over the last several years to the point where we are without backup funds at all. That's really something critical to address as well," Brockman said.
Brockman says the fundraiser will continue online through Red Basket through the next 90 days, while the account with the Murray-Calloway County Community Foundation is ongoing.
