The Garretson Community Pool is slated to open on Thursday, June 1, much to the excitement of area youth.
This year's hours will be Monday through Fridays 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with Family Days on Sundays. Adult supervision, is highly encouraged during the weekdays, as lifeguards are important water safety figures, and are not to be relied on for childcare duties. The baby and toddler wading pool is not supervised by lifeguards, and requires adults be in attendance. Pool management also asks that any child who swims in the large pool stay out of the baby/toddler pool for the safety of all.
A change that began last year, and will continue this year, is the allowance of lifejackets. However, they are only to be used by swimmers who are supervised by adults.
Pool season passes are available tonight (Thursday) and next Monday through Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or daily after June 1 during open hours. Season pass pricing is remaining the same as 2022, with family passes available for $95, students-only for $50, or adult-only for $60. Daily pricing is $4.00 for 3 and up and $5.00 for ages 18 (non-student) and up. Swimmers aged two and under are able to enter for free.
One popular part of swimming is the concessions, which are available to all. Parents and guardians will be able to purchase punch cards for $20 throughout the summer, which will allow up to $25 in snacks for their young swimmers.
Adults are encouraged to jump in the pool each day for lap swim 11:00 a.m., and water aerobics is back on the schedule after a hiatus. Those interested in aerobics must sign up for classes, which will be held Sundays at 5:00 p.m. Signups are due at the pool office on Fridays.
While the pool recently came under the ownership of the City of Garretson, a huge kudos must be extended to the Garretson Community Pool board, whose members successfully got the pool up and running each spring, performed upgrades for both lifeguards and patrons, cleaned and maintained the pool, wrote grants, set up fundraisers, and much more. Since our story on the purchase, the Gazette has heard from two pool board members who felt the city and the Gazette did not give the board the recognition they deserved, and should have done. The city has taken on a big task, and Garretson has a pool because of their hard work and the community's support.
