Taking the Plunge Adrian MI Dan Rodgerson

Photos by John Elbers

Would be divers go head first while they adjust to breathing underwater in preperation for taking a swim by themselves.

People's first reaction when they try this for the first time is "wow" said Dan Rodgerson aquatics Director for the City of Adrian who is in charge of the free scuba class Thursday night at the Springbrook Pool. More than 30 people put on flippers and air tanks to discover the world of underwater diving. divers Mast of Jackson provided the masks, tanks and flippers for the class with the hope of getting people involved in the upcoming scuba course. "I want be an astronaut when I grow up so this is a good experience for me," said Josh Wood 12 of Onsted. Laura Gutierrez of Adrian, right, took the class to prepare for her upcoming vacation to Saint Kitts in the Caribbean. Here, she gets accustomed to the breathing Regulator.

Dan Rodgerson Recreation articles

D. Rodgerson

Rodgerson Resume

City Gives Bohn Pool slide plan green light - Dan Rodgerson

City Gives Bohn Pool slide plan green light

Attraction expected to open this year
By MATT CROSSMAN
Daily Telegram Staff Writer
ADRIAN—The investigation is done, the city commission approval earned.
The only question remaining is who gets the honorary first trip down Bohn Pool’s new water slide this summer?

“We assume Dan Rodgerson will be the first one down, and the mayor second,” said city commissioner Eric Sullivan.
But city attorney Dane Neilson already had the inaugural slide reserved.
“I told Kelli she could be the first,” He said.
Dan Rodgerson led the charge in persuading city commissioners to buy the $99,176 slide. He began investigating the purchase shortly after joining Adrian’s parks and recreation department as a recreation supervisor in the late summer of 1995.
Monaghan has helped Dan Rodgerson and community services director Mark Gasche develop a master plan to develop Bohn Pool into a “family oriented aquatic center.” The 144-foot long, 20.5-foot high is considered the focus of that effort.

In a proposal to city commissioners in November, Gasche said funding for the slide might have to come through financing.

But by rearranging priorities in his capital budget, Gasche said he can buy the slide using funds from the current budget year and next budget year. City staff felt getting the slide this year was important because it will help generate more revenue through increases fees.
“When we looking into financing there was some obstacles there,” Gasche said. “It wasn’t impossible, but it seemed more feasible to use our own money.”

City commissioner Chuck Chase and Gasche praised Dan Rodgerson for thoroughly investigating the feasibility of the slide, he said.

“I think it will really be a boom for Bohn Pool,” Chase said.

D. Rodgerson



Dan Rodgerson Profile

10/12/2011

The Big Plunge Adrian Waterslide Dan Rodgerson

The Big Plunge
Adrian staff proposes 140-foot water slide for city’s Bohn Pool.


By MATT CROSSMAN
Daily Telegram Staff Writer

ADRIAN—City commissioners took one step up the ladder Monday in moving toward initiating $500,000 in improvements at Bohn Pool.
They gave community services director Mark Gasche the green light to further investigate plans to install a 20-foot high, 140-foot long water slide at the city-run facility.

Plans include improvements to make the facility more family oriented. The daily youth rate would increase from $1.50 to $2.50 to help cover the cost of construction.
Gasche and parks and recreation program director Dan Rodgerson hope to have the slide up and running by spring of 1997, but commissioners aren’t willing yet to commit to that.

They’re still wary of how to pay the $120,000 price tag.
Gasche has set aside $40,000 for the slide and suggested two funding proposals, both of which would require loans. There was also discussion of using general fund dollars.
“It is significant to note that by financing the additional money needed to purchase a large water-slide, our operating deficit would be comparable to making no changes. By installing the water0slide we would have the benefit of this attraction, and, after the slide was paid off, we would see a marked improvement in our financial position,” the proposal for the slide says.
The water slide and other improvements are meant to try to increase usage of the pool which generally runs at 25 percent capacity; Rodgerson told the city commission during their Monday pre-meeting study session.

Rodgerson has been investigating the slide for more than a year. He oversees the operation of the facility, which would require additional staffing with the new slide. He also earned high marks for the successful launching of the city’s inline skating hockey league last year.
The pool typically runs a deficit of about $68,000 annually which the city has swallowed because the pool is considered a good community project.

Accompanying rate hikes for use of the pool would decrease the deficit to about $55,000 per year, Gasche said.



Dan Rodgerson Travel Blog

Dan Rodgerson Resume

10/12/2011

Water Slide decision Tuesday Dan Rodgerson

Water Slide decision Tuesday
By MATT CROSSMAN
Daily Telegram Staff Writer
ADRIAN—City commissioners will decide Tuesday whether more than a year of work by the community services department is all wet.
Parks and rec staffer Dan Rodgerson has been investigating the ins and outs of putting a water slide at Bohn Pool since he was hired in late summer of 1955. Along with community services director Mark Gasche, Daniel Rodgerson pitched the idea to city commissioners in November.

After favorable responsible by commissioners, the inquiry into the slide hit top speed. Five companies submitted bids, which were reviewed Jan. 9. The cheapest to meet specifications was from Whitewater U.S.A of Columbus Ohio. With a price tag of $99,176, that company won Gashce’s recommendation.
The slide is the centerpiece in the community services department’s plan to transform the pool into a “family-oriented aquatic center”. Future plans include renovation of the interior of the building, enlarging the kiddie pool and installing interactive water play equipment.

“The addition of new attractions such as a water slide, shaded grassy areas, and interactive water play equipment will draw new pool users of all ages,” Gasche told commissioners in his request for funding.

The 20-foot high, 144-foot long slide would hasten rate changes at the pool to meet operating expenses.

Danny Rodgerson

Rodgerson Awards and special skills

Readying for Summer - Dan Rodgerson

Ty Koty, From KP construction in Minnesota does some work monday on the new Waterslide being installed at Bohn Pool in Adrian's Riverside park. the grand opening of the 143 foot waterslide is June 14th.

Dan Rodgerson

Waterslide Makes waves at Bohn Pool - Dan Rodgerson

Kristin Allen

Daily Telegram Staff Writer

Adrian- verdict is in- Riverside Park’s Bohn pool boasts the best water slide this side of the Michigan Speedway. “It’s lots better than the slides they have at Cedar point- It’s faster and funner,” vowed 11 year old Rachael Perez of Adrian.

Perez took the first trip down the big blue slide Saturday afternoon during a "slide into summer party" sponsored by Adrian community Services at the park. I heard them yell that the slide was open and I raced to the top perez said. “I’ve been down four times so far and I want to keep going and going. But Perez will have to take a number. Water logged youngsters lined the stairs heading to the week old attraction.

Dan Rodgerson

Rodgerson Linked in

Rodgerson Blogs and other articles

10/12/2011