Floating Pool Barge on Mississippi River
Summary:
My idea is to create a public pool on a barge that would float in the Mississippi River and be docked near Lowertown (Wacouta St and Shepard Rd), along The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The intention is to draw more residents to the river, downtown, and the new park for a unique swim in the Mississippi. Residents could easily take the light rail or buses to the Union Depot then walk across the street to the public pool.
This is not a new idea with several floating pools already in existence, most notably in the Bronx, NY. http://www.floatingpool.org/ The Bronx Pool was developed by the Neptune Foundation with an existing steel deck barge 80’ by 260’. Locker rooms, bathrooms, showers, a spray pool, and a snack bar are collected around a raised court and terrace overlooking a seven lane, 25 meter pool. The retrofitted barge is reached by two dramatic aluminum gangways and accommodates 170 swimmers at a time. The floating pool barge in New York was given to their Parks and Recreation Dept by a local non profit in 2008 and remains a unique and well known attraction in the area. Another pool barge is in use in Berlin, Germany. http://www.arena-berlin.de/badeschiff/
Connecting downtown St. Paul to the Mississippi River has been a challenge ever since the railroad first laid tracks over a century ago. I truly feel that building a public pool barge would be an attraction that brings residents and visitors a like to downtown St. Paul to experience the Mississippi River and St. Paul in a new way.
About You
About You
First Name
Kevin
Last Name
Barta
City
Saint Paul
County
Ramsey
Country
United States, MN, Ramsey County
Website (if you have one)
Names of others who helped contribute to my idea
How did you hear about the Forever Saint Paul Challenge?
About Your Organization (if applicable)
Organization Name (if applicable)
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
City
Organization Country
United States, MN, Ramsey County
Your idea
Title of your idea
Floating Pool Barge on Mississippi River
Give us the highlights of your idea for making Saint Paul great (2,000 characters maximum or approx. 250 words)
My idea is to create a public pool on a barge that would float in the Mississippi River and be docked near Lowertown (Wacouta St and Shepard Rd), along The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The intention is to draw more residents to the river, downtown, and the new park for a unique swim in the Mississippi. Residents could easily take the light rail or buses to the Union Depot then walk across the street to the public pool.
This is not a new idea with several floating pools already in existence, most notably in the Bronx, NY. http://www.floatingpool.org/ The Bronx Pool was developed by the Neptune Foundation with an existing steel deck barge 80’ by 260’. Locker rooms, bathrooms, showers, a spray pool, and a snack bar are collected around a raised court and terrace overlooking a seven lane, 25 meter pool. The retrofitted barge is reached by two dramatic aluminum gangways and accommodates 170 swimmers at a time. The floating pool barge in New York was given to their Parks and Recreation Dept by a local non profit in 2008 and remains a unique and well known attraction in the area. Another pool barge is in use in Berlin, Germany. http://www.arena-berlin.de/badeschiff/
Connecting downtown St. Paul to the Mississippi River has been a challenge ever since the railroad first laid tracks over a century ago. I truly feel that building a public pool barge would be an attraction that brings residents and visitors a like to downtown St. Paul to experience the Mississippi River and St. Paul in a new way.
Website address (if applicable)
Innovation
What makes your idea different or unexpected? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
A floating pool barge on the Mississippi River would be very unique. Although there are two other floating pool barges in major cities worldwide, This would be only the second known pool of this type in the USA and the only one in the Mississippi. Being able to 'swim' in the Mississippi River would be a memorable activity for St. Paul residents or visitors a like.
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
How will your idea make a difference in Saint Paul? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
Saint Paul's roots are grounded in the Mississippi River. Being able to go back and experience those roots with a 'swim' in the Mississippi would be an impactful experience that makes residences think about the grandeur of the river and the history of Saint Paul. Watching the new trains rolling into the Union Depot from the river will also evoke a sense of place and belonging to our community.
Sustainability
Why do you think people will recognize or remember your idea after it comes to life? How might it inspire others to do something similar in their community? (4000 characters maximum or approx. 500 words)
I hope that if this idea came to life it would inspire others to come up with other projects along the Mississippi River. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area between the Science Museum of Minnesota to the area just to the East of Wacouta Street has a lot of potential for events and activities. This imaginative project could be the spark we need to set off other community ideas in the area.
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