Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Online -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 5/23/2003
Last Visited: 5/24/2003
Parks and Recreation Director Scott Smith said patrons can look forward to added hours and expanded services this year, including the use of an additional Splash and Slam water basketball unit that was recently purchased for the pool.
"The Splash and Slam has been a very popular activity for the last couple of years, but we have only had one unit," Smith said."After receiving a lot of requests from customers, we have been able to go ahead and install another unit for this summer."
The additional basketball unit will be located near the shallow end of the pool, giving some of the pool's younger swimmers the opportunity to join in the fun.
"In the past, the bigger kids have been able to kind of dominate the games, because the younger kids weren't tall enough to go in the deeper end of the pool, but now they will get a chance to play too," Smith said.
Smith said he anticipates that the additional unit will score big points with the younger crowd at the pool this summer."I think it will keep our basketball fans happy -- the kids really love it," he said.
Children and adults will also have the opportunity to enjoy an extra hour of fun in the sun due to a change in pool summer hours, Smith said.
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"Those interested in swimming laps will still have a separate place to swim," Smith said.
There will be no designated lap swim time on Sunday.
"In past years, we were open at noon anyway, but now we hope everyone will come in and enjoy the facilities for an extra hour," Smith said.
The pool will be open on all scheduled days as long as the air temperature is 68 degrees or warmer and the weather is clear.
Smith said maintenance crews have been working for two months to prepare for the opening of the pool.In addition to making minor repairs, workers have been painting and landscaping.
Last year, the pool added new diving towers, lifeguard stations and poolside umbrellas.
While the recently renovated Putt-N-Swing miniature golf course adjacent to the pool is already open, the batting cage complex is not expected to open for another week or so, Smith said.
Renovations to the batting cage complex have taken longer than expected, but Smith said the final results should be well worth the wait."We are installing all new nets and machines," he said.