Photo supplied, Roy Parks and Recreation Department

ROY — The money is flowing in to help upgrade the Roy Recreation Complex, notably the ailing indoor swimming pool at the city-owned facility.

Around $1.5 million is needed, and the city has launched an effort to drum up $1 million of that from the public, aided by Alan Hall, a longtime Roy resident and philanthropist who helps organize Ogden Pioneer Days. The United Way of Northern Utah is also assisting and the city of Roy plans to put up $500,000.

Roy officials, Hall said, have never before launched such an effort to get donations from the public for a city project. “I don’t know of any city that’s done anything like this,” he said.

Whatever the case, it seems to be yielding results. As of Monday, the effort had garnered $126,339 in donations according to the city of Roy website. Hall, founder of MarketStar in Ogden, said an unidentified donor was tentatively going to put in another $500,000 on top of that. He was brimming with optimism.

“We’re going after a number of foundations, businesses, individuals, vendors at the city, and we’ll hopefullly have it wrapped up in next two weeks. I’ve been very pleased with the response of the people,” Hall said.

City officials closed the swimming pool last spring due to mechanical problems, which prompted an outcry from many in Roy who use the pool and say the facility should be repaired. Notably, the boiler and heat exchange, which heat the water and swimming pool facility, need to be fixed, a costly proposal.

In light of the needed fixes, city officials opted to pursue a more comprehensive upgrade of the facility, first built in 1948 and a draw to residents from other nearby cities like Hooper, West Haven and Riverdale. The targeted $1.5 million would also be used for other fixes and facility upgrades, though the city is still getting a precise handle on estimated costs to complete the work, aided by an engineering consultant.

“When the project is completed, the complex will have a new boiler, heating system, swimming pool, aerobic room, locker rooms, family changing rooms, increased ADA features, racquetball courts and many other improved areas,” reads a United Way blurb on the plans. The ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal measure that requires that public facilities be accessible to disabled people.

Officials haven’t pinpointed a specific timeline, but Roy Mayor Bob Dandoy is anxious to get the project completed. “It’s critical to get this thing done,” he said.

The Roy High School swim team has used the Roy Recreation Complex pool but is seeking out another facility in light of the temporary pool closure. Many others, including seniors, also use the 25-yard, six-lane pool and Hall noted that his kids used the facility when they were growing up.

“It’s one of the jewels in your community that you want to keep going,” Hall said. Some 90,000 people use the Roy Recreation Complex’s varied facilities each year, according to Roy Parks and Recreation Director Travis Flint.

Roy isn’t alone in dealing with swimming pool issues.

The city of Ogden closed the indoor pool at Marshall White Center in the spring of 2018. Debate about the future of the facility has simmered and now city leaders are preliminarily planning to raze the old building and build a $23-25 million facility with a new swimming pool and other amenities.

Ogden leaders included funding for the new Marshall White Center in the 2022-2023 budget and the work would take an estimated two years.

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