Editorial: Summer in the city: Take a dip

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Glen Park’s 75-year-old outdoor pool is nearly ready again for some serious splashing. For generations, this small but functional pool has been popular every summer with young kids and families.

The tradition continues when the pool opens Tuesday, June 8, for a host of student field trips on the last day of school. That night and continuing through Friday, Aug. 27, the pool’s regular open hours are in place.

The pool is located at Glen Park, which features mature shade trees, shelters, picnic tables, braziers, horseshoe pit, basketball court, softball field and open areas for a game of soccer or tossing a Frisbee or a football. It’s an ideal setting to play or just idle away the hot summer days.

For safety, there are always three lifeguards overseeing pool activities. Here are a few basics to remember about pool usage:

--Once the school year ends, the pool’s open from 1-5 p.m. and 6:15-8:15 p.m. every day.

-- Adults have their own time with lap swimming daily from 5-6 p.m.

-- Admission price remains frozen: $2.50 per person from 1-5 p.m.; $1.50 is charged per person for the 6:15-8:15 p.m. slot and for adults swimming laps from 5-6 p.m.

-- Season passes are $50 per person for city residents; $75 for non-city residents. There are also various family passes available.

-- Family Fun Night is every Wednesday and Sunday from 6:15-8:15 p.m. Toys and floats are allowed. Kids pay $1.50 apiece but must be with a paying parent, relative or guardian.

n Birthday pool parties are reserved for Saturday and Sunday mornings. Call Parks and Rec at 425-0924 to reserve a date. Cost is $40 for a group of up to 15; $65 for a group of 16-30.

Starting June 14 until the first week of August, Glen Park’s pool is also used for 30-45 minute morning swim lessons that last two weeks. Cost is $27 for city residents; $37 for non-city residents. Kids as young as six months (with a parent) can participate. Again, call 426-3421 to sign up.

The pool closes during bad storms. A notice is posted at the pool building and on a phone recording. Call 425-0933 to check.

Glen Park, founded in 1898, is located off South Main Street by turning at West Park Street. Check out and make use of the amenities, including the historic pool, this summer.

The Journal’s online poll question this week asked: How would you rate the importance of preserving and protecting historic sites in River Falls?

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, the results were:

A) Extremely, cannot be overemphasized

(15.9%)

B) Very, we should support these efforts through funding and volunteering

(34.5%)

C) Average, it should be balanced along with all other local needs

(35.4%)

D) Not much, preservation is costly and usually not functional or practical

( 8.8%)

E) Zero, looking ahead is way more important than living in the past

( 5.3%)

To vote on this issue, go to www.riverfallsjournal.com. A new poll question appears each Friday morning.

Tags: river falls, opinion, editorials, weather, swimming