LINTON, IN — The Linton City Council will convene on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Linton City Hall for a vote that community leaders say will determine the long-term future of the A.M. Risher Aquatic Center — the only public swimming pool in Linton, Indiana.
The A.M. Risher Pool Revitalization Project, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by Linton residents, is asking the council to adopt a comprehensive five-year sustainability plan and approve $175,000 from the city’s Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) fund for an emergency pool liner replacement. The current main pool liner is 17 years old, has been patched multiple times, and leaks water daily. The kids pool does not even have a liner and also leaks. Without replacement, the facility cannot safely or efficiently operate for the 2026 season.
The plan carries zero cost to taxpayers. The $175,000 investment comes from the EDIT fund, which currently holds over $946,000 and spent only $35,609 in all of 2025. The Revitalization Project has independently committed to raising $500,000 over five years through grants and private donations, bringing the total combined investment to over $747,000.
“This pool has been the heart of Linton summers since 1965,” said representatives of the Revitalization Project. “The plan is written, the funding is identified, and the community has already raised over $60,000 without a single dollar of taxpayer money. What we need now is for the City Council to vote yes and for the community to show up and show them this matters.”
A 60-Year Legacy at Stake
The A.M. Risher Aquatic Center opened in 1965 in Humphreys Park on State Road 54 and was named for Mayor A.M. “Slim” Risher, who donated his entire first year’s mayoral salary and contributed construction materials from his own business to make the pool a reality. For six decades, the pool has served as a place for swim lessons, youth recreation, competitive swimming, water aerobics, community events, and summer employment for Linton’s young people.
In a community where the median household income is $41,968, the poverty rate exceeds 19%, and the nearest alternative public pool is more than 20 minutes away, the pool serves as a critical resource for families who cannot afford private alternatives.
The Cost of Inaction
According to analysis prepared by the Revitalization Project, closing the pool would cost the community between $1.7 million and $2.4 million over five years when accounting for demolition costs ($123,000–$207,000), lost annual revenue ($55,000–$71,000 per year), elimination of 10–15 seasonal jobs, forfeiture of $500,000 or more in grant funding that requires an active facility, and declining property values estimated at $3.8 million to $5.7 million in lost assessed value across the community.
Multiple Indiana communities of similar size have successfully revitalized aging pool facilities through the same combination of municipal investment and grant funding that the Linton plan proposes. Madison, Indiana, leveraged a $2 million Community Development Block Grant into a $10 million complete aquatic park rebuild. Rushville, Indiana, with a population of just 6,000, used its Stellar Community designation to transform its pool and is now constructing a $20 million recreation center funded largely by grants.
Community Attendance Urged
The Revitalization Project is urging all Linton residents, business owners, and community members to attend the April 13th meeting in person. Organizers say visible community support is essential to demonstrating public support for the plan
“A packed room sends the strongest message possible,” project representatives said. “The plan is ready. The funding is in reach. All that’s missing is a room full of Linton.”
MEETING DETAILS
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Location: Linton City Hall, Linton, Indiana
Open to the public. All residents and stakeholders encouraged to attend.
About the A.M. Risher Pool Revitalization Project
The A.M. Risher Pool Revitalization Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed by Linton, Indiana residents committed to preserving and improving the community’s only public swimming facility. The organization works in partnership with the City of Linton to secure grants, raise private donations, and develop a long-term sustainability plan for the A.M. Risher Aquatic Center in Humphreys Park. In its first 11 months, the project has raised over $60,000 through community donations and fundraising events without using any taxpayer funds.
