Friends of Dakin Pool hosts fundraiser

BANGOR – On a cool, breezy evening in the summer, few people swim or eat ice cream, but an estimated 50 Dakin Pool neighbors enjoyed a fundraising event at the east side pool Friday night despite the weather.

Friends of Dakin Pool hosted the event, with a grant from the Maine Community Foundation, organizing a night swim for the kids after they smeared their faces with ice cream.

“This is something for the family to enjoy,” Linda Dunn, the organizer of the event, said.

“We [Friends of Dakin Pool] wanted to keep the awareness,” she added about keeping the fundraising efforts going after the pool closes next week.

With kids eager to jump in the water, lifeguards stayed an hour and a half past their usual shift so the event could take place.

Both Nathan Lavoie and Kayla Manning, the lifeguards on duty, agreed they didn’t mind staying late, even on a Friday night. The evening swim on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays used to keep them at the pool until 7:30 p.m.

The not-for-profit grassroots group composed of concerned citizens saved the pool 18 months ago from being cut by the City Council, promising to raise $100,000 for necessary repairs.

With the funds, the group hopes to construct a new pool house, fence, picnic area and equipment building. Currently they have raised nearly $43,000.

“I’m excited we are closing in on the halfway mark,” Alicia Nichols, the campaign director, said Friday.

Friends of Dakin Pool wants to close the campaign by the end of September, and that objective is realistic, Nichols said.

“We are in the thick of solicitation, a broad-based campaign with cans and direct mail within the city,” the director explained.

Nichols said beginning the construction is contingent on Bangor planning board approval, then the group will work to finish the entire project by next June.