Hello friends! There has been a tremendous amount of activity taking place in the efforts to rebuild Ridgewood Pool. We’d like to take a moment to provide a brief but comprehensive update on where we’ve been and progress to date.
Quick Re-Cap of Where We Started
Approximately five years ago, realizing the need to address an aging pool that had already existed far beyond its expected life span, the Ridgewood Pool Board and members of the Ridgewood community researched options and determined it was necessary to rebuild.
Ridgewood enlisted the help of Todd Barnett of Barnett Architecture, LLC to create a preliminary pool design and estimated project cost. To help raise funds and ensure continued opportunities and access to a safe place for the community to learn to swim, in late 2017 the Ed Nebbins Foundation (ENF) was formed.
Building Committee
In 2019, with fundraising efforts moving briskly, Ridgewood’s Building Committee was working closely with the pool architect on details of the project design. Pre-construction and permitting work with the City began in the spring of 2020 but then everything paused due to the pandemic. In early fall 2020, the Building Committee resumed its work. This committee consists of five Ridgewood Pool board members, two Ed Nebbins Foundation board members, pool architect Todd Barnett, and civil engineer Steve Whayland of DC Engineering.
Selection of a General Contractor and Aquatic Engineer
In late 2020, the Building Committee conducted a formal RFP process and interviewed five local general contractors. Upon completing due diligence, the committee selected J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. as the project General Contractor.
Findorff’s Project Manager immediately began working with the Building Committee on a pre-construction plan and an updated project cost estimate. The group also interviewed aquatic engineering firms and selected Ramaker & Associates as the aquatic engineer subcontractor. Ramaker works nationwide, is headquartered in Sauk City, and has extensive experience building and renovating pools.
Addressing Current Realities Through Value Engineering
While the original cost estimate factored in anticipated inflation, there have been significant global developments that directly impact project timing and cost. The economic and social constraints brought on by COVID-19 severely limited ENF’s fundraising activity for a portion of 2020. Supply chain disruptions and steep increases in the price of building materials have dramatically increased the cost of construction projects. Ridgewood has not been immune. The cost to entirely rebuild Ridgewood has risen considerably. Given the urgent need to rebuild within a foreseeable timeframe, the Building Committee, along with Project Mangers from Findorff and Ramaker, have been developing a modified construction plan using value engineering. Value engineering promotes the substitution of materials and methods with less expensive alternatives, without sacrificing functionality.
For example: Ramaker tested the structural integrity of the concrete of all four pool vessels (upper, lower, baby and dive). It was again confirmed that the underground plumbing and mechanicals need to be replaced throughout the facility including underneath the pool house. However, the concrete for two of the vessels, the upper pool and dive well, is structurally sound. Ramaker estimates those vessels could last another 20 years if new plumbing to eliminate underground leaks is installed and the pools are effectively resurfaced. This could reduce the estimated rebuilding cost by hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus the plumbing will be in place when those vessels need to be replaced decades down the road. This is just one example of the value engineering work currently underway that has brought the estimated cost down to $3.8 million. The Ridgewood Pool Board is committed to using value engineering for the most responsible and practical approach to rebuilding.
Fundraising Progress to Date
More than 500 individuals and businesses have pledged or donated a total of more than $2.8 million to rebuild Ridgewood. This is truly a community effort. The total is approximately 75% of the estimated cost.
Next Steps and Opportunities
With approximately $1 million left to raise to reach the updated estimated cost to rebuild, ENF is continuing its efforts on two primary fronts: Naming Rights level gifts of $10,000 and higher that can be paid over a 5-year period; and Personalized Pavers for the welcoming courtyard.
In late July, extremely generous individuals who believe strongly in the value Ridgewood brings to the community, shared that they will match 10 new gifts of $10,000 or more, up to an additional $100,000! Friends and family members can combine to make a gift together. $10K gifts can be pledged as $2,000 per year for 5 years and those who make these Leadership level gifts can choose a Named Recognition Opportunity when Ridgewood is rebuilt. Those Opportunities can be seen online at EdNebbinsFoundation.org/Give.
Personalized Pavers for the welcoming courtyard are another key element of the fundraising effort. 110 Pavers were reserved over the winter, and the goal is to have 200 more pavers reserved by the end of 2021. Every name on a Personalized Paver will forever be a part of the amazing Ridgewood community. Pavers are $500 each and can be reserved with a single payment or pledged as $100 per year for 5 years.
Gifts of any size can be made online at EdNebbinsFoundation.org/Give/ by clicking on the Donate Now Form or using the Online Pledge Form. A third option is to download and print the Gift Form and mail it to Ed Nebbins Foundation, PO Box 930248, Verona, WI 53593-2270. ENF can also accept gifts of stock or securities by contacting ENF Treasurer Nick Curran at info@EdNebbinsFoundation.org.
Updated Construction Timeline
With ongoing supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, by early this spring it was clear that even if we had already met our fundraising goal, we would not be able to acquire the materials needed to begin construction by Labor Day. A Labor Day start is necessary in order to be done by the following Memorial Day. An important goal all along has been to build in the off-season and not lose an amazing Ridgewood summer. The plan is to break ground at the end of next summer, 2022, and the project will be completed in spring of 2023.
Your Involvement
Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, effort and financial support. The new pool is in sight, and by all working together we’ll ensure Ridgewood is here for the next 60 years! Please contact the ENF Board at info@EdNebbinsFoundation.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can get this project to the finish line. We’d love to hear from you!