Rubber duckies coming to Ashland Creek

The Aquatics Foundation of Southern Oregon is getting its ducks in a row for Ashland's first rubber duck race.

The club plans to send 3,000 yellow quackers down Ashland Creek on July 12 to keep the Southern Oregon University pool afloat for another year. Club members gathered Thursday night to number the ducks for the fundraiser they hope will raise $90,000 and start an annual tradition.

"Getting back in the SOU pool is a good thing, but as a club sport for Ashland, we can't afford to pay what they're charging us, so we have to find another way," said Patti Grant, whose daughter Kelsey will be a senior on the Ashland High School water polo team this fall.

Last season, the team practiced outside in wetsuits until the end of October, fighting colds and trying to stay warm, she said.

"If we're outside in the fall again, we'll lose a lot of players," she said. "I don't think they'll come back."

The groups that use the pool — including Rogue Valley Masters, Phoenix High School swim teams and Ashland High School water polo and swim teams — had to come up $87,000 last year to reopen the pool, which worked out to about $100 per hour. Those prices depleted the water polo budget, Grant said, which usually has a $6,000 carryover for equipment and travel.

The aquatics club hopes the duck race and other fundraisers will keep the teams in the SOU pool this year, but members said it is not a sustainable solution. Eventually, they would like to see the SOU pool repaired or another facility built.

"We're trying to focus on the long range because we really don't want to be doing so many fundraisers," said Jim Heath, coach for the Phoenix High School swim team. His teams also participated in a swim-a-thon, sold oranges and held car washes to raise money for their seasons.

To get the duck race approved, club members had to obtain a raffle license from the Oregon Department of Justice and adhere to strict regulations. They also brought in three local fish experts to show the Parks and Recreation Commission that the event would not harm the environment.

The experts were able to alleviate the commission's concerns about erosion and disrupting the fish habitats, said Parks and Recreation Director Don Robertson. Now they are just looking forward to a fun event.

"I think its going to be entertaining," Robertson said. "I'm going to buy my duck."

Tickets can be purchased for $10 at Paddington Station and other area locations for one more week. The grand prize is $1,000 cash from Southern Oregon Subaru, and all tickets are valid for $5 off a meal at Red Robin and a free car wash provided by members of the aquatics club on July 26.

Staff writer Julie French can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 227 or jfrench@dailytidings.com.

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