Brewfest set for Chinook pool, park

Chinook's 2021 Sugarbeet Festival is getting a new event this year with the Sweet Park Brewfest, which starts 4 p.m. Saturday in Sweet Memorial Park, 700 New York St.

Organized by The Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation to raise money for repairs and a major upgrade of the Chinook City Pool and Sweet Memorial Park, the family-friendly brewfest will have craft beers and ciders on tap, a barbecue hosted by the Blaine County Wildlife Museum and live music by the Stone Broke String Band, foundation spokeswoman Heather DePriest said.

"It should be a lot of fun for everyone," she said.

They will also be conducting a silent auction and DePriest said people can still donate items for that sale by calling Tammy Edwards at 406-399-1428.

The foundation was formed in 2020 to, at its core, work toward making much-needed repairs of the pool which was built in the 1980s. The pool is usable, but it's starting to show some cracking and the gutter is in rough shape, DePriest said, and the area needs better drainage.

"Our pool is in a little bit of despair and by raising money we are hoping to repair the pool and also to improve the pool," she said.

The pool needs to be revitalized soon, she added, before the damage becomes so acute that they have to pay even more to have the current pool removed and a whole new one built in its place.

"A group of us got together and said, 'Wow we better do something about this or we are going to lose our pool,'" she said.

The city of Chinook, though, doesn't have the funds for the repairs, so foundation members are working to raise the money as a community.

The improvements are part of a larger plan for upgrades to both the pool and the park that will make it a tourist destination site with a splash pad and tower water slide complex with a large playground, DePriest said. The plans also include elements like new playground equipment, a climbing wall, shelter for cross country bicyclists, ADA accessibility, expanded locker rooms and pool house, a new chemical and boiler system, permanent shade structures, outdoor showers and lockers, bleachers, an outdoor theater and a gazebo.

The entire project, which will encompass that entire city block, is expected to cost $3.2 million, she said. The foundation has about $55,000 from fundraisers and donations from families, individuals and businesses to start on the first phase to save the pool and add the splash pad.

The group is also looking into grant funding and is working on creating a recreation district so they can get a bond on the ballot for taxpayers to vote on. And people can become a member of the foundation on the groups's website at http://chinookfriends.org .

"The goal is to create something that is sustainable to continue on," DePriest added. "Just as the recreation district is going and moving forward, we want to sustain this moving forward so the goal is to create the membership platform to make that happen."

The closest water park venues like this are in Sidney, Columbia Falls, Lewistown and Great Falls, she said.

"We're hoping to create that kind of destination in the northern tier of Montana," she added, with the idea to get people to come, spend time and tourist dollars in Chinook, while also saving the community's pool that is used by locals throughout the summer.

People can go to the foundation's website to read about the plans, see the list of projected improvements and images of what the improvements will look like, sign up to be a foundation member and learn about donating.

The brewfest, she said, is planned as an annual event. This year, the costs are $15 for a mug and two drink tickets, and additional tickets are $2 each or six for $10. The musical entertainment is free. The outdoor seating will spread across the large park area, hand sanitizer will be available and people are asked to be aware of social safety precautions, DePriest said, but masks will not be required.

With the delta-driven COVID-19 surge in the state, which includes recent deaths in this area, officials are urging people to take steps to slow the spread of the virus that causes the disease.

People who feel ill and unvaccinated people who have been exposed to the virus should stay at home and vaccinated people who have been exposed to the virus should be tested within three to five days of exposure, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

People are urged to wear masks and socially distance when out in public.

And everyone who has not is urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.