By Joe Bachman

Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council presented their aquatic survey findings to the city on Tuesday night.

The survey polled 515 students from ages 13 to 18, and asked students from Lincoln High School, and Assumption High School their thoughts on aquatics in Wisconsin Rapids. Highlights of the survey are below.

According to the survey, 87% of students rate the idea of replacing the Mead pool as “Excellent” or “Good”. When asked if the city built an indoor pool. 82% of student responded positively, with either a “very likely” or “likely” to use the facility.

When asked about the likelihood of use for an outdoor facility, 81% stated that it would be “very likely” or “likely” that they would use it, one percent less than compared to an indoor facility.

Locations for a potential new pool were polled, including Witter Field, Assumption High, Port Edwards YMCA, the current Mead pool location, and by the Wisconsin Rapids river dam.

63% of students favored a pool at Witter Field, due to it’s central location in the city. 32% would like to see a new pool built where the current Mead pool stands.

Lastly, when asked of pool features, over 70% of students favored concessions, wave pools, slides, and diving boards.

This is an ongoing study and survey by the Mayor’s Youth Council, and they will be presenting to the council again in the near future.