Mission: Excellence in aquatics
Vision: River Cities Community Pool will be the center of wellness in the Tri-City area achieved through partnerships with others.
River Cities Community Pool Association (RCCPA) currently maintains a membership of over 330 users, 184 of whom are seniors, either as paying members or enrolled in the Silver Sneakers program. On an average day, over 70 seniors, adults, and youth make use of the pool for lap swimming, water walking, fitness classes, or swim lessons.
Every year, over 800 area children enroll in our American Red Cross swim program. In 2017, RCCPA’s partnered with the Wausaukee School District to provide swim lessons for 89 youth bused to the pool. Thirty-five children from the Crivitz Youth Center also came for lessons. Free lessons were provided to 125 youth from the DAR Boys & Girls Club.
RCCPA also supports a USA certified swim team, the Streamliners. We also stage a grant-supported free Kids Triathlon with 125 participants and provide free pool time for Marinette County Special Olympic practices.
Background and history
The history of River Cities Community Pool can be divided into three phases:
The River Cities Recreation Task Force, led by Chairman Fred “Fritz” Jaeger Jr., was formed to fund the construction of recreation assets for the area. From 1991 to 1992, they focused on three projects: An addition at the Greater M & M YMCA in Menominee, the first recreation domes for hockey and tennis at Higley Field in Marinette, and a six-lane pool on the UW-Marinette campus. The $750,000 pool construction cost was funded by a $500,000 pledge from the River Cities Task Force, a three-year pledge of $45,000 from the City of Marinette and $200,000 in borrowing by Marinette County from the State Trust Fund.
Opening in March of 1994, the pool was operated by the YMCA under terms of a ten-year Memorandum of Agreement between Marinette County, the University of Wisconsin-Marinette, and the YMCA. In 2004, the term of renewal was converted from to a one-year period. In February, 2009, the YMCA gave notice of termination to Marinette County.
In the winter and spring of 2009, concerned citizens and pool users formed the River Cities Community Pool Association as a Wisconsin non-profit corporation. This organization is dedicated to maintaining access to quality aquatic programming and preserving the legacy of major public and private investment used in building the pool.
Recent history
Dedicated volunteer effort pool users raised money to support the new association while they built a sustainable membership base. An Aquatic Director was hired to develop programming and promote utilization. The Aquatic Director is the only full-time employee of the Association.