Visitors to the new aquatics center may one problem: choosing
between the many available activities.
Visitors to the new aquatics center may one problem: choosing between the many available activities.
The center has three pools, each a little different. The recreation pool has a “zero-depth” entry, which Recreation Coordinator Theresa Magno describes as “like walking into the ocean,” where the level gradually gets deeper, up to 18 inches.
“There’s a play structure, with two little slides for the little guys, and then there’s a wing with a three-foot depth,” she said. “That’s where the 150-foot water park slide is, with the stairs that are 30-feet high. This is the fun pool.”
An instructional pool, with depths from 3-feet, 6-inches to 4-feet, 6- inches, will be used mainly for lessons and adult swimming, Magno said.
The third pool is the competition pool, 50 meters and a depth of 6-13 feet. It has two springboards, a one-meter and a three-meter. Children will have to pass a swim test to swim in the “serious” pools. When they have passed, they will be issued a wristband which they need to wear in the pools.
When the daily “adult swim” breaks come, between 1-1:15 p.m. and 3-3:15 p.m., swimmers under 18 must get out of the pool. However, there are plenty of other things they can do until time to jump in again.
There is a spray ground, which Magno said is similar to the water activity at the Community Cultural Center. Kids can run through the randomly spraying fountains, or try out the spray cannons. The center will have “Big Squirts” for sale, a tube-like toy that can be filled from one of the center’s filling stations and used to squirt friends and family.
Food is available at the concession stand, and Magno said they plan to offer weekly specials.
“We’ll have a standard menu with water, fruit smoothies, hamburgers, hotdogs and snacks,” she said, “but we’ll also have chicken sandwiches, funnel cakes, breakfast bagels and other special items.”
If swimmers just want to take a break for a while, there are lawn areas where, Magno said, “you can hang out, relax and enjoy the view of the water.”
For organized fun, the aquatics center has event rooms available for rent.
“We hope people will use these for birthdays or other private parties,” she said. “We also see the possibility of offering water safety and first aid classes after hours.
